Establishing University Mission In The Triple Helix Context

Universities have multiple roles in economic development: educating students and developing competences useful for young employees struggling to adapt to the increasing demands of the industry, researching and providing research results to the industry and providing services in public-private partnerships with government agencies and industry. They can be perceived as sources of economic development, while the traditional university has transformed in time from a simple provider of education and research into an organization that combines education, research and industry related activities. Although this new paradigm can generate a certain level of tension to the faculty, the three directions coexist in all modern universities because this coexistence is both productive and profitable. The article aims to present how universities should formulate and adapt their mission and strategy to the current economic environment, characterized by competitiveness, dynamism and permanent change. The research presented in this paper is theoretical and provides a framework that clarifies how the new mission – industry – the third mission of the university - not only fits, but also improves the performance of education and research activities of universities around the world, contributing to fulfilling their mission. The paper includes recommendations useful for formulating the mission of the university, presents the path from stating a clear mission to developing the strategy of selective excellence and, in this context, presents an overview on the places the university has taken in time in relation to government and industry, using the Triple Helix model. The conclusions and discussions presented at the end of the paper underline the role of universities in education, research and industry in the current economy.