Theme 3: Higher Education Institutions as centers of regional development and innovation

The third theme of E-Learning Course 4 on Strengthening the regional economic development is „Higher Education Institutions as Centers of Regional Development and Innovation “. The theme is further divided into four sessions:
– Regulatory frameworks, policy recommendations, incentives, barriers
– Regional role of higher education institutes (connecting universities to regional growth)
– Policy recommendations on institutional, national and EU level
– Best practices
The objective of the first session is to explain why universities are important for regional development and what their main functions are. The role of higher education institutions is also analysed in relation to RIS3 concept and in terms of their central role in the innovation ecosystem.
The second session argues that higher education institutions can mainly create scientific innovation and especially in the open innovation process. Open innovation accelerates the exchange of knowledge and technology transfer not only between different institutions, but also between regions. Role of higher education institutions in regional growth is also explained through transformational impact of RIS3 and innovation chain.
Policy recommendations related to funding, human resources, infrastructure, etc. are presented in the third session. It is highlighted that effective policies for higher education require three things: clear targets, alignment of incentives to support the targets and monitoring that does not add to an accountability burden. Also, it is provided a set of policy recommendations to mobilise higher education institutions for regional engagement.
Session four delivers best practices from the Danube Region countries in the field of creating educational programs in accordance with the needs of specific economy sectors and in cooperation with various stakeholders.