Conceptualizing the system-based university
An Integrated Framework
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 4097038 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Letizia Donati (0000-0001-5546-8258, University of Florence, corresponding author), Marco Bellandi (0000-0002-9044-5630, University of Florence) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 51 |
| Issue | 6 |
| Pages | 1-15 |
| Publication date | 2025-05-06 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Studies in Higher Education (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0307-5079 • E-ISSN: 1470-174X |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/03075079.2025.2499706 |
| OpenAlex | W4410127832 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 47 |
Universities operate in a complex landscape that increasingly requires them to balance global competitiveness with regional engagement while addressing a growing range of third mission (TM) activities. Existing models – such as the entrepreneurial and civic universities – offer distinct approaches to TM but are often framed as opposing paradigms, reinforcing a divide between economic and social TM orientations. This paper advances the System-Based University concept as an integrated framework that bridges these perspectives. It identifies three key dimensions: (i) synergy between teaching, research, and TM activities, (ii) alignment with local community needs, and (iii) excellence in research and teaching. The combination of these dimensions leads to different enduring university models, where their varying expressions result in distinct institutional configurations, with synergy critical in balancing localist (alignment-led) and globalist (excellence-led) strategies. To explore the reliability of this framework, we conduct a cluster analysis on an original dataset of universities across multiple countries, adopting a quantitative approach to classify institutions based on their strategic positioning. Our findings suggest a non-insignificant presence of system-based universities – institutions that integrate entrepreneurial and engaged features while maintaining firm regional embeddedness. This model offers a promising path to mitigating mission overload and fostering institutional sustainability. This study contributes to ongoing discussions on university engagement strategies by providing empirical evidence of system-based models. It offers practical insights for university managers and policymakers seeking to balance regional relevance with global ambitions, paving the way for future research on the evolution of university models
Economic growth · Economics · Higher education · Mathematics education · Pedagogy · Sociology · Higher Education Governance and Development · Information Systems Theories and Implementation · Psychology · University-Industry-Government Innovation Models
Cluster Analysis
Finding Groups in Data
The Civic University
The University and the City
The entrepreneurial university as driver for economic growth and social change - Key strategic challenges
The future of the university and the university of the future
The economic impact of universities
Entpreprenerial Universities and Technology Transfer
Social innovation governance and the role of universities
What drives university-industry collaboration? Research excellence or firm collaboration strategy
The Third Mission of the university
Unpacking the role of universities in the emergence, development and impact of social innovations – A systematic review of the literature
The Governance of University Knowledge Transfer
The contribution of universities to innovation and economic development
What are university satellite campuses for? A perspective on their contribution to Italian municipalities and regions
From ‘entrepreneurial’ to ‘engaged’ universities
Anchoring talent to regions
Strategic agency and institutional change
Entrepreneurial scientists and entrepreneurial universities in American academic science
Contextualizing the role of universities to regional development
A text-mining analysis of Latin America Universities' mission statements from a 'Third Mission' perspective
Nuancing the roles of entrepreneurial universities in regional economic development
Participatory action research experiences for undergraduates
Who benefits from HEIs engagement? An analysis of priority stakeholders and activity profiles of HEIs in the United Kingdom
The university as a Just anchor
| Citations per year | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2025 - 2025 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |