Modern-day Universities and Regional Development
📝 Abstract
Nowadays it is quite evident that knowledge-based society necessarily involves the revaluation of human and intangible assets, as the advancement of local economies significantly depend on the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of human capital[Lundvall, 2004]. As we can instantaneously link the universities as main actors in the creation of highly-qualified labour force, the role of universities increases parallel to the previously mentioned progresses. Universities are the general institutions of education, however i nthe need of adaptation to present local needs, their activities have broadened in the past decades [Wright et al, 2008; Etzkowitz, 2002]. Most universities experienced a transition period in which next to their classic activities, namely education and research, so called third mission activities also started to count, thus serving many purposes of economy and society.
💡 Analysis
Nowadays it is quite evident that knowledge-based society necessarily involves the revaluation of human and intangible assets, as the advancement of local economies significantly depend on the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of human capital[Lundvall, 2004]. As we can instantaneously link the universities as main actors in the creation of highly-qualified labour force, the role of universities increases parallel to the previously mentioned progresses. Universities are the general institutions of education, however i nthe need of adaptation to present local needs, their activities have broadened in the past decades [Wright et al, 2008; Etzkowitz, 2002]. Most universities experienced a transition period in which next to their classic activities, namely education and research, so called third mission activities also started to count, thus serving many purposes of economy and society.
📄 Content
A IX. KHEOPS Nemzetközi Tudományos Konferencián elhangzott előadások írott verziói
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ZUTI BENCE (Szegedi Tudományegyetem): Modern-day Universities and Regional Development
- Introduction
Nowadays it is quite evident that knowledge-based society necessarily involves the revaluation of human and intangible assets, as the advancement of local economies significantly depend on the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of human capital [Lundvall, 2004].
As we can instantaneously link the universities as main actors in the creation of highly- qualified labour force, the role of universities increases parallel to the previously mentioned progresses. Universities are the general institutions of education, however in the need of adaptation to present local needs, their activities have broadened in the past decades [Wright et al, 2008; Etzkowitz, 2002]. Most universities experienced a transition period in which next to their classic activities, namely education and research, so called third mission activities also started to count, thus serving many purposes of economy and society.
These higher education institutions are reckoned as educators, as they supply local labour markets with human resources possessing specialized knowledge. These institutions are also reckoned as sites of high-level research, as the efficiency of innovation processes and the ability of the adaptation of locally created technologies and market solutions are crucial when it comes to regional development and the competitiveness of a given region [Lengyel, 2000]. In connection with this, the third mission of universities means a certain purpose to get involved and even shape the development of the economy and local enterprises through various direct and indirect activities [Wissema, 2009]. According to Chkolar [2010], the main motor of regional economies is innovation, and universtities are able to contribute to innovation potential. Besides the creation and dissemination of knowledge, universities tend to cooperate with local, even national and often international actors to establish networks [Varga 2004]. The result of successful regional development is maintainable regional competitiveness. There are several definitions regarding competitiveness, however in our case, the unified definition of competitiveness is relevant, which states: „The ability of companies, industries, regions, nations and supra-national regions to generate, while being exposed to international competition, relatively high income and employment levels" [EC 1999, p. 75., Lengyel, 2000, p. 974.].
This research focuses on a much smaller part of a bigger picture. The goal of this study, is to feature some of the universities’ potential connections and contributions regarding local economic development through the examination of several success factors of modern-day universities.
- Universities as centres of nodal regions
Universities exist in a special space due to their activities. To fbe able to handle the role of universities in regions, we must carefully choose an approach in which we can examine it effectively.
Nowadays, regional studies differentiate thee fundamental regions types, all with different characteristics [Lengyel, 2010]. The planning or programming region can be determined by A IX. KHEOPS Nemzetközi Tudományos Konferencián elhangzott előadások írott verziói
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strict geographical boundaries. They are organized by top-down methods and are created considering statistical and governmental purposes. They are main units of territorial development (e. g. Csongrád county or Bavaria). Nodal regions on the other hand are mainly organized bottom-up considering purposes of effective regional development. They represent one or more cities, even agglomerations (e. g. Öresund region, Gdansk-Sopot-Gdynia axis or the Szeged-Arad-Timisoara axis). Due to the denseness of neetworks they are involved in, these regions cannot be depicted with strict boundaries. Homogeneous regions represent identical social or economic territorial features (e. g. the Tokaj wine region).
Regarding universities the nodal region approach is the most appropriate for us to describe their characteristics of existence. Some factors can contribute to the appeal of these nodal regions with universities, and hence contribute to the potencial in regional competitiveness. In the short term, it is important to create highly qualified human resources, but in the long term it is crucial to keep them in the region [Florida, R. 2000]. This can be achieved by establishing an appealing innovational milieu, maintaining a trustful business environment and alluring social conditions [Holbrook J. A. – Wolfe D. A. 2002].
A first class exampl
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