Understanding the Regional Contribution of Higher Education Institutions

The contribution of higher education institutions to regional development is a theme that has attractedgrowing attention in recent years. Knowledge institutions are increasingly expected not only to conducteducation and research, but also to play an active role in the economic, social and cultural development oftheir regions. The extent to which higher education institutions are able to play this role depends on anumber of circumstances: the characteristics of the institutions, the regions in which they are located andthe policy frameworks are all significant. At the same time, there are signs of more fundamental conceptualand strategic confusion. The discussions in this domain are frequently characterised by slogans and popularmetaphors.This literature review was prepared to support the OECD project entitled 'Supporting theContribution of Higher Education Institutions to Regional Development', which was conducted by theOECD Programme on Institutional Management in Higher Education (IMHE) in collaboration with theDirectorate of Public Governance and Territorial Development. Drawing mainly from a selection ofEuropean and North American publications, the report takes an overall view on the development of highereducation institutions in the regional context. It focuses on the evolution and discourses of highereducation and research, the regional aspects of higher education policies, the various functions and rolesthat the institutions play, measures taken to link the universities with their regional partners, and theconditions which favour or hamper stronger regional engagement.