The UNICOM project has set its sights on developing the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine's policy to strengthen the third mission of Ukrainian universities. Drawing inspiration from the experiences of EU states such as Italy, Germany, Sweden, Czech Republic, and Latvia, the project aims to foster cooperation between higher education institutions (HEIs) and communities by promoting best practices. A comprehensive range of activities has been designed to amplify the social role of universities and enhance their engagement with local communities. These activities incorporate effective models of interaction ensuring social cohesion, resilience, and sustainability. Playing a vital role in this endeavour, ACEEU has joined as a Quality Assurance Partner to ensure the project's quality through its robust QA methodology, frameworks, survey templates, risk analysis, and expert consultations.
As part of the UNICOM project, an enlightening online workshop titled “Third Mission of Universities: Challenges and European Perspectives” was conducted from July 10th to July 12th. The first day of the workshop (July 10th) revolved around the topic of “Sustainability through Third Mission: Universities as Global Change-Makers.” This engaging session was divided into two plenary sessions, the first focusing on “Contemporary Global Trends and Challenges of the Third Mission of Universities,” and the second exploring “Professional Qualifications, Quality Assurance, and the Third Mission of Universities.” ACEEU played a crucial role during the second plenary session, presenting the topic “Assessing Third Mission of Universities: Contemporary Practices and Modern Challenges.” This presentation shed light on the distinctions between an entrepreneurial university and an engaged university, while also explaining ACEEU's unique approach to the third mission.
Additionally, two insightful panel sessions were held on the first day. The first panel, titled “Sustainable Universities in Times of War: Ukrainian Practices,” delved into the experiences of Ukrainian universities in maintaining sustainability amid challenging circumstances. The second panel, “Sustainable Universities in Times of War: Strategic Planning for Green Recovery of Rural Communities,” explored innovative strategies for revitalizing rural communities through the active involvement of universities.
Moving on to the second day (July 11th), the focus shifted to “Ukrainian Practices on Third Mission in Times of War.” This day comprised four distinct panels: Panel 1 examined the practices of engagement involved in the third mission of universities, while panel 2 delved into the role of engaged universities from the perspective of the Ministry of Social Policy; Panel 3 provided valuable insights into the intersection of universities, entrepreneurship, and the third mission, while panel 4 explored the concept of entrepreneurial universities and their impact on societal development.
The final day of the workshop (July 12th), was an exclusive session accessible by invitation only. This day was dedicated to the topic of “Researching Third Mission of Universities: Approaches and Practices,” where experts delved into the various strategies employed in researching the third mission of universities.
