1. Being a Local University: Towards New Assessment Tools and Indicators Dr John H Smith Senior Adviser, European University Association (EUA) Brussels Member, CDPPE Ad Hoc Group on Higher Education
European Conference on the Local Mission of Higher Education
Council of Europe, Strasbourg, France.
18-19 June 2019

2. Introduction In 2014 EUA published a report entitled “University-Business Collaborative Research: Goals, Outcomes and New Assessment Tools” which arose from a project involving 24 universities, their external partners 18 businesses and 8 public authorities in 12 European countries.
Although the focus was on collaborative research, the findings have wider implications for the enhancement of university missions in tackling societal challenges and providing innovative approaches and solutions that can be applied at the local and regional levels with a range of stakeholders.

3. The project started on the premise that a new multi-dimensional assessment tool was needed for collaborative research. For the following reasons:
Assessment of university-based research has tended to be dominated by reference to assessment tools focussed on measuring output in terms of scientific publication citation, Nobel Prize and other high achievement scientific awards
These tools are designed essentially for measurement of high performance in fundamental research in research-intensive universities. The definition of “excellence” in university research has tended as a result to be confined to this paradigm, whereas “excellence” in research can demonstrate itself in other research missions
Where “ranking exercises” outcomes based upon traditional assessment tools become highly influential in resource allocation to universities – this can be potentially detrimental to the further development of wider missions of universities

4. Keys Lessons for Success learned by participating universities and their external business partners
Developing trustful relationships between the partners
The role of institutional leadership in promoting and supporting collaborative research
Identifying relevant research topics for all stakeholders involved in the collaboration
The importance of public funding
Defining clear expectations for the collaboration
Furthering the institution’s role in the knowledge exchange process – more widely defined beyond “technology-push” to “social innovation” in the economy and society
Enhancing the degree of professionalisation of staff involved in collaborative research
The important role of social sciences and humanities
And finally, not least, collaboration needed to be considered as a “public good”, particularly in terms of how it contributes to building sustainability of cooperation between the university and its external partners

5. Assessment tools developed in the project did not aim to assess the quality of the research outcomes but rather the university-business collaboration process
Building a collaborative research activity required:
Strategic approaches
Structural factors
Facilitating aspects
Leading to the identification of:
Goals
Outcomes
Benefits/Impacts

6. Strategic approaches and motivations underlying universities’ and companies’ engagement – 7 Indicators
Organisational strategy in fostering collaboration
Increasing R & D capacity
Applied research to industrial challenges and for development of innovative products and services
Access to academic/business expertise
Broadening research funding sources
Promoting regional development
Providing input for policy development

7. Structural factors in setting-up research collaboration – 4 Indicators
Organisational and institutional support
Public support to university-business research collaboration (through regional, national and European policies)
Geographical proximity
Key role of knowledge exchange expertise in the university

8. Facilitating aspects for successful collaborations – 8 Indicators
Previous successful experience between the partners
Trustful relationships
Commitment and Interdependence between the partners
Working in a network (open innovation)
Interdisciplinary research
Efficient contractual negotiation and management processes
Getting the “right” people profiles
Incentives for researchers to engage in collaborative research

9. Goals, Outcomes and Impacts of Research Collaboration I
Goals, Outcomes and Impacts of Research Collaboration I. Institutional/Organisational Development – 9 Indicators
Increased awareness of value of collaboration
Furthering the university mission
Visibility/reputation
Attracting students
Access to and shared use of infrastructure and human resources amongst partners
University education or programme activities jointly developed and run with partners
Consulting services
Appointments to advisory committees/bodies
Improving the learning experience of students

10. Goals, Outcomes and Impacts of Research Collaboration II
Goals, Outcomes and Impacts of Research Collaboration II. Strengthening Human Resources – 3 Indicators
Enhanced professionalisation of human resources
Employment of graduates/postgraduates in the non-academic sector
Research and, crucially, research management positions created
ALL LEAD TO: the creation of new forms of local and regional innovation and development

11. Examples of Issues for Debate - Being a Local University
Project demonstrated that fostering collaboration brought in both established partners to the university, but importantly also how new partners such as SMEs and local public authorities were brought in who had not previously seen the university as a potential partner
Public funding was essential in order to provide the structural elements which were beyond the capacity of individual partners, such as infrastructure, political/policy support and regional strategies
Recruitment of people with different skillsets, and establishing incentives for existing staff to engage in outreach to external organisations/partners

12. Thank you for your attention
Report Reference:
“University-Business Collaborative Research: Goals, Outcomes and New Assessment Tools”
Lidia Borrell-Damian, Rita Morais and John H Smith
EUA Publication 2014
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