Reimagining engagement: A new framework for university engagement

This white paper challenges universities to better align their engagement strategies with their context. It is based on an empirical study of over 4,600 academics across 68 universities and identifies four distinct engagement models (Research-Intensive, Entrepreneurial, Engaged Urban, and Civic).

We posit that while all universities inherently engage with their surrounding ecosystem through their function of knowledge creation and dissemination, truly impactful and sustainable strategies transcend generic outreach. Instead, it must be meticulously crafted, deeply rooted in a university’s unique profile – its specific research strengths, academic expertise, and institutional capabilities – while simultaneously acknowledging and strategically leveraging or addressing the distinct specialisation of the regional economy or innovation chain in which it operates.

This tailored approach ensures that engagement efforts are not only relevant and impactful but also leverage the university’s inherent assets to foster mutually beneficial relationships and drive meaningful regional development.

Ready for more?

Our podcast episode, Connecting academia, government, and industry for innovation, provides practical examples of how universities can engage with external stakeholders to drive regional innovation. We talked with Nicholas Haskins, Chief Operating Officer of the New South Wales Smart Sensing Network, about bridging the gap between academia, industry, and government, to turn research into real-world impact.

Arno Meerman (author) is the Founder and CEO of UIIN.
Todd Davey (author) is an Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at IMT Business School