Knowledge Transfer and the Mission of Universities in the 21st Century
This project aims to identify the most relevant areas and dimensions of the relationships between universities and stakeholders in their surrounding environment, while exploring ways to assess the status and outcomes of these relationships using explicit and objective criteria. Knowledge transfer can be understood as the mission through which universities deliver services to society based on the various forms of capital they accumulate, all of which are grounded in knowledge. At the core of these long-lasting assets lies human capital developed by universities.
One of the main objectives of this report is therefore to define and delimit the third mission of universities, offering a holistic perspective that identifies its different components and assesses the relative importance of each. The study approaches this definition by considering both the historical evolution of knowledge transfer and the emerging trends that are reshaping the role of universities and may redefine their mission in the future.
The report also examines the complementarities and potential tensions between knowledge transfer and the university’s other two core missions, namely teaching and research. In addition, it explores the feasibility of developing metrics and indicators to assess universities’ performance in their third mission. This includes evaluating the availability, frequency, and quality of the data needed to support such an indicator system, following an approach similar to that already used to assess teaching and research activities.