Third Mission Activities at Austrian Universities of Applied Sciences: Results from an Expert Survey

Abstract

This article looks at third mission activities as an integral part of universities of applied sciences (UAS) and sheds light on the wide portfolio of third stream initiatives at the Austrian applied higher education sector. In a pilot study, this research explores how the sector (consisting of 21 UAS) perceives its role as an enabler for prosperity, innovation and knowledge transfer in the local areas. In addition, we sought to identify the wide range of potential rationales behind regional engagement, attempted to differentiate between concepts that primarily target the traditional roles of universities (teaching and research) and seek to integrate third mission elements (Entrepreneurial University, Triple Helix, Mode 2) with an eye on economic gains and those that foreground additional responsibilities at the tertiary level for societal purposes. In this sense, we sought to carve out to what extent institutions also engage in third mission activities predominantly for non-economic reasons (Engaged University, Regional Innovation Systems, Sustainable University). Such a differentiation may have the potential to outline the paradigms for third mission activities in a more systematic and structured way. In addition, this analysis may allow Austrian UAS to make more informed decisions along the lines of third-stream initiatives that are based on their strategic positioning and profile.

Strengthening the Role of Academic Institutions and Innovation Brokers in Agri-Food Innovation: Towards Hybridisation in Cross-Border Cooperation

“…The work of Fisher (2011) [83] and Kauffeld-Monz and Fritsch (2013) [25] supports our findings related to the complementary innovation broker functions that academic institutions have. However, in this discussion, we need to distinguish between traditional universities, Universities of Applied Sciences and research institutes [49,51,85]. Most Universities of Applied Sciences tend to have long-standing connections with SMEs (e.g., in our study with agri-food SMEs) [49,86,87] and are in some cases seen as the main innovation partner (Dutch region).…”

The Englishization of Higher Education in Europe

“…Starting with administration as the least visible aspect of HE activities, legal communication is restricted to German, official exchanges within international research groups and English-medium programmes rely on English, while online communication with the internet-based public takes place in both languages, representing one of the few instances of parallel language use. Third mission activities (e.g., knowledge and technology transfer, social engagement and the socio-economic development of the region) as the third pillar of HE next to teaching and research are predominantly carried out in German (Gaisch et al, 2019).…”

The Englishization of Higher Education in Europe

“…Starting with administration as the least visible aspect of HE activities, legal communication is restricted to German, off icial exchanges within international research groups and English-medium programmes rely on English, while online communication with the internet-based public takes place in both languages, representing one of the few instances of parallel language use. Third mission activities (e.g., knowledge and technology transfer, social engagement and the socio-economic development of the region) as the third pillar of HE next to teaching and research are predominantly carried out in German (Gaisch et al, 2019).…”