Universities are primarily responsible for education and research but increasingly they are also seen by policy makers as drivers of economic, social and environmental benefit for their communities, their countries, and the World. Universities are also being asked to demonstrate the ‘impact’ of their work in various ways and universities are much more aware of their ‘anchor’ role in their locality and the need to manage their reputations and build their brands. As a result, university leaders have become increasingly preoccupied by how they should organise and measure this ‘third mission’.
Drawing on his UK and international experience Sean Fielding will explore how universities should respond to this ‘opportunity’ and how they can manage and measure this work internally and demonstrate their effectiveness to their external communities. One of the key questions is who should be responsible for this activity. Sean will reflect on how the particular experience and expertise of University TTOs can turn them into leading players in this important new work, which could reshape the concept of a TTO in the 21st century.
