UNIVERSITY AS A DRIVER OF SOCIAL INNOVATION: INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN DEVELOPING PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITIES

Abstract

The article examines global experience in implementing interactions between higher education institutions (HEIs) and territorial communities amid the evolving role of universities in the face of current global challenges and military aggression against Ukraine. It substantiates the relevance of strengthening universities’ “third mission” as a tool for sustainable development, social cohesion, and post-war recovery. The study’s purpose is to generalize international practices of HEI-community interaction and identify possibilities for their adaptation to Ukrainian realities. The methodological basis comprises a systematic and comprehensive approach, alongside a comparative analysis of university experiences in various countries regarding forms and mechanisms of community engagement. The analysis covers examples of institutionalized interactions at universities worldwide, particularly through specialized social innovation centers, coordination structures, and partnership platforms. It was established that effective interaction relies on integrating universities’ educational, research, and social functions; fostering cross-sector partnerships; adopting a project-based approach; and orienting activities toward community needs. The results indicate that HEIs serve as agents of social change, contributing to human capital development, innovation, and resolution of local socio-economic issues. The study demonstrates that institutional support, systematicity, and continuity are key to achieving sustainable impacts. This led the authors to conclude that Ukraine should adopt models involving specialized interaction units, integration of communities into educational and research processes, and development of socially oriented innovations. The practical significance of the results lies in their potential to inform improvements in state higher education policy, enhance HEIs’ role in territorial community development, and support effective post-war reconstruction of Ukraine.

The material was prepared within the framework of the research project “Institutionalizing the Interaction between Higher Education Institutions and Territorial Communities as a Factor in the Restoration and Preservation of Human Capital under Martial Law and in the Post-War Reconstruction of the Country”.