scholarly journals University Impact on Regional Development in the Context of Smart Specialisation

2021 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yevheniia Polishchuk ◽  
Anna Kornyliuk ◽  
Alla Ivashchenko ◽  
Yuriy Danko ◽  
Oleh Pasko
Keyword(s):  
Regional Development ◽  
Academic Entrepreneurship ◽  
Innovation Policy ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Regional Innovation ◽  
Joint Research ◽  
Smart Specialisation ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

Regional development on the basis of smart specialisation entails the involvement of stakeholders in innovation processes such as business, public organisations, local government and academic sectors. Universities are the drivers of a region’s development because they have a broad research base. Using the methodology of the Joint Research Centre (European Commission), the impact of Sumy National Agrarian University on the development of the Sumy Region was assessed by such criteria as its cooperation with stakeholders, innovative infrastructure of the university, development of academic entrepreneurship, and its role in developing the region. The method of collecting qualitative data involved conducting structured interviews with the university administration and relevant departments. The collected data were analysed by content analysis. As a result of testing the methodology, its high level of applicability was noted in the Ukrainian academic space, outside the EU. It is recommended to use the method of assessing the impact of the university on the development of the region during the entrepreneurial discovery process, which follows the definition of priorities for the development of the region in the context of smart specialisation. The recommendations were given on the revival of cooperation with stakeholders, possible ways of developing academic entrepreneurship and building innovation infrastructure. The results of the research presented in this article may be used in university promotion within the region and the country as well in the context of smart specialisation. Policy makers may use the research results in order to provide regional innovation policy.

scholarly journals Regional smart specialization in Ukraine: JRC methodology applicability

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 247-263
Author(s):  
Alla Ivashchenko ◽  
Anna Kornyliuk ◽  
Yevheniia Polishchuk ◽  
Tetiana Romanchenko ◽  
Iryna Reshetnikova
Keyword(s):  
Regional Development ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Innovation Policy ◽  
Local Level ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Regional Innovation ◽  
Joint Research ◽  
Static And Dynamic Analysis ◽  
Regional Strategies ◽  
Smart Specialization

Regional development is related to the effective management of disruptive industries on the local level. In the European Union, the innovation regional development policy is based on a smart specialization strategy, which neighboring countries try to apply as well. In their regional strategies, they notice the goals which are designed within the Joint Research Center methodology. It allows revealing the most efficient industries in the region, leading to a new level of regional competence on the global level. The study aims to identify smart specialization priorities based on JRC methodology in certain Ukrainian regions and assess its applicability in emerging markets (Ukrainian case) and develop the set of recommendations considering the specificity of the national economy. The methodology is based on the static and dynamic analysis of economic (the indicators of the growth of average salaries and the number of employees indicators are calculated) and innovation (the indicators of productive, process, organizational, and marketing innovations are analyzed) potential of the region, which is examined in the article. It is revealed that the JRC methodology in identifying the smart specialization priorities has limited application in Ukraine. The restrictions related to the lack of data on innovations and other economic indicators. The analysis of certain regions shows what industries should be recommended as the priorities of smart specialization. However, discussions of the calculated results with the key stakeholders have differences which are not acceptable in the regional innovation policy development. As a result, the experts’ opinions are recommended to consider the priorities of different regions in Ukraine and other developing countries, which are on the path of smart specialization during stakeholders’ communication sessions.

scholarly journals The university-to-work transition: responses of universities and organizations to the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
William E. Donald ◽  
Melanie J. Ashleigh ◽  
Yehuda Baruch
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Behavior ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Career Services ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Transition ◽  
Global Labor Market ◽  
Career Literature ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to understand how universities and organizations have responded to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of preparing university students and recent graduates to enter the global labor market, using the accounting, banking and finance sector as a case study. The two research questions are (1) How can university career services and organizations work individually and collaboratively to best develop early career talent following the COVID-19 pandemic? (2) What are the challenges that university career services and organizations face when working individually or collaboratively to develop early career talent following the COVID-19 pandemic?Design/methodology/approachThe data for thematic analysis comes from 36 semi-structured interviews with career advisors (CAs) (n = 19) and graduate recruiters (GRs) (n = 17).FindingsThis study offers some of the first findings on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, helping to ensure that organizational behavior and career theory literature reflect the dramatically changing landscape in the university-to-work transition.Originality/valueTheoretically, our contribution comes from applying a framework of the career construction theory (CTT) within the context of a career ecosystem to understand the views of the intermediary, meso-level actors, which, to date, have lacked representation within career literature. Practically, we provide an insightful bridge between universities and organizations, offering opportunities for greater collaboration, and enhanced outcomes for all stakeholders.

scholarly journals Environment based innovation: policy questions

Finisterra ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 44 (88) ◽  
Author(s):  
Argentino Pessoa ◽  
Mário Rui Silva
Keyword(s):  
Regional Development ◽  
Innovation Policy ◽  
Resource Curse ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Competitive Advantages ◽  
Environmental Resources ◽  
Regional Innovation ◽  
Public Intervention ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Innovation Policies

Natural resources and physical cultural resources, referred to in this paper as “Environmental Resources”, can be important assets for regional competitiveness and innovation. In recent years, these types of assets have been increasingly taken into consideration in the design and implementation of regional development strategies, as a consequence of their potential role as a source of differentiation and of new competitive advantages. However, in contrast to environmental policies, which usually focus on the protection of the environment, innovation policies and their instruments are largely shaped by, and geared towards, knowledge-based innovation.In this paper, we discuss the role played by environmental resources in the context of regional innovation policies. We begin by discussing the relationship between environmental resources and regional development, and by emphasizing some contrasting views with regard to the function of environmental resources in regional development. Then, we address the relationship between regional competitive advantages and innovation strategies. The specific issues and problems that arise whenever the aim is to attain competitive advantages through the valorisation of environmental resources constitute the core of section III. In that section, we highlight the specific characteristics of environmental resources and we discuss the applicability of the “natural resource curse” argument to the dynamics based on the valorisation of environmental resources. The reasons that justify public intervention as well as the difficulties concerning the adequate level of intervention (local / regional / national) are also examined. The paper ends with some conclusions and policy implications.

scholarly journals The impact of University of Žilina´s employees on regional development

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 21-24
Author(s):  
Lucia Možuchová ◽  
◽  
Lucia Gašperová ◽  
Mária Rostášová ◽  
Dorota Jelonek
Keyword(s):  
Regional Development ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
University Staff ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Total Size ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Registered Office ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The City

The university is an important part of the region's infrastructure and has the potential to initiate changes and transform the economy into a diverse range. The presence of a university in a host city or region has a strong impact on regional development. Universities are usually among the largest employers in the city. Their employees, students and visitors spend some of their finances in this city, which have an impact on local and regional economic development. The total size of the impact of university varies depending on the size of the university and the characteristics of the local and regional economy. The primary aim of the contribution is identification of the selected short-term impacts of the University of Žilina to the city and region, where it has its registered office. To achieve the stated goal, primary research was carried out primarily focused on the economic impact of university staff on the development of the Žilina´s region.

The failure of non‐binding declarations to achieve university sustainability

2007 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 301-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.A. Bekessy ◽  
K. Samson ◽  
R.E. Clarkson
Keyword(s):  
Best Practice ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Pilot Studies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Institute Of Technology ◽  
University Leaders ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Insight Into

PurposeThis paper aims to assess the impact and value of non‐binding agreements or declarations in achieving sustainability in universities.Design/methodology/approachA case study of Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University is presented, analysing the reasons for lack of progress towards sustainability and evaluating best ways forward. Using a timeline and analysis of historical records for the 12 years since RMIT first engaged in the sustainability agenda, major trends in the process of implementing policies are identified. Secondly, 15 semi‐structured interviews with university leaders and key sustainability stakeholders from across the university are analysed to provide insight into how and why the university has failed to achieve sustainability.FindingsNew implications for successfully achieving sustainability arise from these findings. Accountability is a key issue, as RMIT appears to reap benefits from being signatory to declarations without achieving genuine progress. To ensure that declarations are more than simply greenwash, universities must open themselves up to scrutiny of progress to determine whether commitments have been honoured.Practical implicationsRelying on small‐scale “club” activities establishing demonstrations and raising awareness is unlikely to lead to permanent change. The evidence of RMIT's engagement with sustainability shows that, for example, even when successful pilot studies are conducted, these initiatives may do little to affect the mainstream practices of a university unless certain conditions exist. Furthermore, given the on‐paper commitments institutions have made, and the role of the university in society, small‐scale and gradual changes in university practice are a far from adequate response to the urgent sustainability imperative.Originality/valueThe initial engagement of RMIT University with the sustainability agenda 12 years ago marked it as a world leader in sustainability best‐practice. Analysing how and why such a disappointing lack of action has resulted from such promising beginnings provides insight into future directions for implementing sustainability in universities. The paper argues that considering the key responsibility of universities in leading the sustainability agenda, a more systemic and serious response is required.

The Impact of an Unexpected Facility Closure on a Campus Community

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-201
Author(s):  
Corinne Farneti ◽  
Denise Ditch
Keyword(s):  
Student Satisfaction ◽  
Division I ◽  
Campus Community ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Management Communication ◽  
Recreational Facility ◽  
Interview Methods ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

This case study examines the impact of an unexpected recreational facility closure. The university studied is a small Division I school, located in a rural area. Semi-structured interviews were used to elicit data from 22 people representing various groups around campus. Using grounded theory, the researchers coded statements and categories, resulting in six themes: socialization, performance, adaptability, management, communication and perception, and student satisfaction. The study includes an overview of the university and recreational culture, a description of the fieldhouse roof collapse, interview methods and study limitations, an analysis of stakeholder interviews, and suggestions for how to best handle a similar scenario.

Questioning the implementation of smart specialisation: Regional innovation policy and semi-autonomous regions

2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 530-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rhiannon Pugh
Keyword(s):  
Innovation Policy ◽  
Innovation System ◽  
Regional Innovation ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Border Regions ◽  
Regional Innovation Policy ◽  
Smart Specialisation ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
The Uk

This paper considers the recent developments in regional innovation policy pertaining to the smart specialisation agenda from the perspective of a peripheral and semi-autonomous region – Wales in the UK. Through a case study of innovation policy developments in Wales over the past 20 years, and also a consideration of extant literature pertaining to regional innovation policy and smart specialisation, this paper finds a number of issues or shortcomings in the current predominant smart specialisation approach. These are traced back to the strong regional innovation system logic existing in European policy; a number of unresolved theoretical problems that could undermine the efficacy of innovation policy are identified. Both conceptual and rhetorical issues with the concept of the region are highlighted, and questions are asked about the applicability and tenability of smart specialisation approaches in semi-autonomous, cross-border regions, and for policymakers operating in circumstances of multi-level governance. This paper illustrates how such regions provide us with a lens or alternative perspective through which to reconsider our predominant theoretical and practical policy approaches, and highlights a number of potential problems with smart specialisation as it is applied in a diverse range of regional settings.

The European Entrepreneurial University

2003 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 325-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry Etzkowitz
Keyword(s):  
Regional Development ◽  
Academic Entrepreneurship ◽  
Entrepreneurial University ◽  
European Universities ◽  
Research Mission ◽  
Start Up ◽  
The University

The European entrepreneurial university is based on the teaching mission of the university, whereas US academic entrepreneurship is typically an extension of the research mission. Recognizing that the European professoriate has traditionally been more removed from entrepreneurship than its US counterpart, some European universities have organized programmes to train students to develop start-up firms. Nevertheless, given similar goals of encouraging science-based regional development, and increasing the returns to the university from its research and other activities, it can be expected that European and US universities will adopt each other's entrepreneurial formats in coming years.

scholarly journals Online Learning Amidst COVID-19 Emergency: A Case of the University of Malawi’s School of Education

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 346-364
Author(s):  
Bob Maseko ◽  
Foster Gondwe ◽  
Symon Winiko ◽  
Symon Chiziwa
Keyword(s):  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
School Of Education ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Concerns Based Adoption Model ◽  
Academic Leaders ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Learning Data

This paper explores faculty members’ concerns and level of preparedness for open and distance learning (ODL) at the University of Malawi’s School of Education during the recent Covid-19 pandemic within a context that considers ODL as a means of mitigating the impact of the pandemic on teaching and learning. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with four experienced academic leaders within the school of education. The Concerns Based Adoption Model (CBAM), particularly stages of concerns, served as a framework to understand the faculty’s concerns about the implementation of ODL initiatives. Inductive and deductive analysis approaches were used to analyse the interview transcripts to identify emerging themes. Deductive analysis revealed that faculty members expressed several concerns such as awareness, informational, as well as consequences concerns as they talked about their feelings and attitudes towards the implementation of ODL. Inductive analysis on the other hand revealed that faculty members’ perceptions such as minimal preparation, negative orientations, and lack of policy awareness hamper the implementation of ODL. These findings underscore the importance of members’ orientation change to ensure effective implementation of ODL in contexts like the institution under study. We discuss these and propose that professional development could help members develop positive attitudes towards ODL.

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