Third Mission of Higher Education: case of Ukrainian universities

Abstract

The article discusses an idea of a modern set of solutions for developing a business ecosystem at the universities to enhance students', teachers', graduates' entrepreneurship) which should be evaluated by National and International Rating Agencies while ranking universities for government funding and for educational services. The aim of the paper is to analyse the university activity through the lens of third university mission indicators. The indicators of modern rankings enable assessment of the “traditional” mission of the university – the commercialization of knowledge and results of research activities of universities. This approach does not include new role of the university as a “third-generation” HEI capable to improve social, economic and legal environment. The “third mission” approach seeks to strengthen university position in highly competitive world education space. Such changes in the indicators for university ranking should be accepted for correct presentation of universities as innovation centers open to society and to relations with the business ecosystem. The main findings of the article show that application of "third mission" in Ukrainian universities would lead to the acceleration of entrepreneurial activity in higher education. That means the formation of new cohort of young professionals, business ecosystem, professional consulting and mentoring system in the student environment. The other finding of the paper is rather limited coverage of the third university mission in the national rankings of Ukraine and the lack of the efforts to include new indicators in the assessment.