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The Policy Approach For The Third Mission Of Universities: The Spanish Case (1983 – 2018)

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  • DE LA TORRE, Eva M.
  • PEREZ-ESPARRELLS, Carmen
  • CASANI, Fernando

Abstract

Following the international trend, Spanish universities have long ago included among their fundamental tasks the third mission of universities and have advanced in the formalisation and structuration of knowledge transfer, life-long learning and outreach activities. The development of the third mission was not gradual, but shaped by the evolution of the regulatory and funding frameworks affecting higher education. A comprehensive revision of the Spanish regulatory changes and programmes supporting the third mission of universities overtime indicates that the policy agenda has been traditionally supportive mostly to knowledge transfer and innovation activities, although more support is necessary in many fields. Consequently, the production process for knowledge transfer is nowadays further developed than the one for continuing education and social engagement. Notwithstanding, even the true potential of knowledge transfer is still to be achieved due to weak incentives for researchers to transfer knowledge to society and managerial and cultural barriers that still remain. Besides, this issue is relevant to higher education managers and policy makers because it entails that part of the activity of universities and their contribution to society is not fully visible.

Suggested Citation

  • DE LA TORRE, Eva M. & PEREZ-ESPARRELLS, Carmen & CASANI, Fernando, 2018. "The Policy Approach For The Third Mission Of Universities: The Spanish Case (1983 – 2018)," Regional and Sectoral Economic Studies, Euro-American Association of Economic Development, vol. 18(1), pages 13-30.
    • Handle: RePEc:eaa:eerese:v:18:y2018:i:1_2
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    File URL: http://www.usc.es/~economet/reviews/eers1812.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Eva M. de la Torre & Tommaso Agasisti & Carmen Perez-Esparrells, 2017. "The relevance of knowledge transfer for universities’ efficiency scores: an empirical approximation on the Spanish public higher education system," Research Evaluation, Oxford University Press, vol. 26(3), pages 211-229.
    5. Berbegal-Mirabent, Jasmina & Lafuente, Esteban & Solé, Francesc, 2013. "The pursuit of knowledge transfer activities: An efficiency analysis of Spanish universities," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 66(10), pages 2051-2059.
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    Blog mentions

    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. 40. Lists of articles on economic development of journal RSES, 2001-2020
      by MCG Blogs de Economía in Euro-American Association: World Development on 2020-02-25 20:32:00

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    1. Rella, Angela & Rubino, Michele & Raimo, Nicola & Vitolla, Filippo, 2024. "Does the digitalization of municipalities affect the efficiency of universities? An Italian case study using DEA and Malmquist index approaches," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    2. Compagnucci, Lorenzo & Spigarelli, Francesca, 2020. "The Third Mission of the university: A systematic literature review on potentials and constraints," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    third mission; knowledge transfer; continuing education; social engagement; Spanish Higher Education system; university policy; university social responsibility.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions

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