News

NEW PUBLICATION ON THE “THIRD MISSION” OF HIGHER EDUCATION

A new publication titled “Current Trends in Higher Education and its Third Mission: Partnering for Social and Economic Development in HERE Countries” has been released by the Erasmus+ Higher Education Reform Experts (HEREs) team within the framework of the Erasmus+ programme.

This publication highlights the contribution of higher education institutions beyond teaching and research to societal and economic development, commonly referred to as the “third mission.” It analyzes universities’ cooperation with society, their role in regional development, and their links with the labour market.

The publication discusses the following topics:

🔹 The concept and importance of the “third mission” of higher education
🔹 Community engagement and services provided by universities
🔹 Alignment with labour market needs and cooperation with industry
🔹 Adult education and opportunities for lifelong learning
🔹 Responses to modern challenges such as climate change, student well-being, and the development of civic awareness
🔹 Universities’ engagement with society illustrated through Erasmus+ project examples
🔹 The role of institutional autonomy, quality assurance, governance, and academic careers in national policies
🔹 Developing a unified institutional approach by integrating education, research, and societal engagement within universities

The publication is based on examples from higher education systems in the Western Balkans, Eastern Neighbourhood, Southern Mediterranean, and Central Asian countries.