Evidence-based policy in Erasmus+
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The Index of Higher Education–Business Engagement as a mechanism for monitoring university–business relations – pragmatic research grounds and methodological approach
By Paweł Poszytek, PhD, Magdalena Jelonek, PhD and Mateusz Jeżowski Mateusz Jeżowski
Abstract In a world driven by innovation the cooperation between academia and business is a prerequisite to sustainable economic growth, employment and prosperity. Even though the examples of university–business cooperation can be easily identified, the phenomenon and its complexity has not yet been fully described and analysed. The Index of Higher Education–Business Engagement (HEBE Index), based on a set of precise indicators, constitutes a framework for a comparative analysis which can provide a detailed picture showing to what extent individual universities in different countries cooperate with industry and business. As a tool for monitoring the level of adherence of national policies and practices to European and globally accepted and acknowledged recommendations and solutions, the index seeks to capture the attention of leaders in government and can be used as a benchmarking tool for universities and business.
is chief research officer at the Foundation for the Development of the Education System, the Polish National Agency of the Erasmus+ Programme. His current research focuses on university– business relations as well as on competences gained in non-formal education settings. He is a member of two international research consortia and acts as a national Correspondent for Wikipedia on Youth in Poland.
Introduction and research rationale Knowledge-based economies are highly dependent on the production, distribution and use of knowledge and information, which build and shape the fundaments of the contemporary, globalised world. In consequence, universities more than ever before carry out key functions in (knowledgebased) economy, including knowledge production, transmission and transfer. Also more than ever before universities worldwide are asked and expected to be “useful” to the degree that it seems that the
KEYWORDS
university–business
cooperation, innovations, knowledge-based economy, higher
education, index,
research, indicator.
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