This project was conducted in two parts. First a study about the role of the Third Mission of universities was analysed conceptually and based on a case study of the region of Vienna. A main part was the analysis of the international discouses about the missions of university. As another part this conceptual analysis was augmented by an empirical qualitative study of attitudes and practices of universities located in the Vienna region. This part was commissioned by the City of Vienna.
Project Report (pdf in German)
A second part has added a critical review of the feasibility of the concept of the knowledge triangle (KT) as a basis for policy making in a broader view in the European and OECD region. The analysis provides an analytical framework and proceeds by looking at the three two-way-relationships included, and then tries to draw extrapolations towards the three-way relationship indicated by the KT. A focus is the ‘Third Mission’ of universities, that has various, and partly contradictory meanings. A basic challenge is that the concept requires a turn from the ongoing differentiation process in higher education towards (re)-integration. This part was commissioned by OECD.