Svitlana Tsymbaliuk
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6194-4035
ASSESSING THIRD MISSION IMPLEMENTATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS: METHODOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK AND A SYSTEM OF INDICATORS
Full text (pdf)
Language: Ukrainian
Abstract. The expanding interaction of higher education institutions (HEIs) with business, public authorities, local communities and other external stakeholders increases the need to assess third mission implementation; in Ukraine this need is reinforced by the tasks HEIs face during the war and future recovery. The article aims to substantiate the methodological framework for assessing third mission implementation in HEIs and to propose a system of indicators together with a methodology for its application. The study draws on the analysis of academic publications and legal documents, a comparative analysis of international frameworks and national assessment systems, systematisation and generalisation, and methods of indicator structuring. Criteria for attributing activities to the third mission are proposed, allowing it to be distinguished from internal teaching and research activities. Theoretical and methodological approaches as well as national assessment and reporting systems are compared in terms of their scope, data types and applicability in Ukraine. Principles for designing a system of indicators are formulated, and seven substantive dimensions are identified: institutional and strategic framework; knowledge, technology and innovation transfer; academic entrepreneurship and commercialisation; continuing education and lifelong learning; social and civic engagement; regional development and cooperation with communities; contribution to recovery and sustainable development. The proposed methodology covers data collection and verification, normalisation, aggregation of results by dimension and their interpretation. The main output of the assessment is an institutional profile across the seven dimensions, which makes it possible to identify strong and underdeveloped areas of third mission implementation.
Keywords: higher education, higher education institutions, university third mission, indicators, external stakeholders, societal impact, institutional self-assessment.
https://doi.org/10.32987/2617-8532-2026-3-66-80
Keywords: higher education, higher education institutions, university third mission, indicators, external stakeholders, societal impact, institutional self-assessment.
https://doi.org/10.32987/2617-8532-2026-3-66-80
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5. Etzkowitz, H. (2016). The entrepreneurial university: Vision and metrics. Industry and Higher Education, 30(2), 83-97. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5367/ihe.2016.0303.
6. Compagnucci, L., & Spigarelli, F. (2020). The third mission of the university: A systematic literature review on potentials and constraints. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 161, 120284. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2020.120284.
7. Molas-Gallart, J., & Castro-Martínez, E. (2007). Ambiguity and conflict in the development of “third mission” indicators. Research Evaluation, 16(4), 321-330. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3152/095820207X263592.
8. Secundo, G., Pérez, S. E., Martinaitis, Ž., & Leitner, K. H. (2017). An intellectual capital framework to measure universities’ third mission activities. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 123, 229-239. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2016.12.013.
9. Haj Taieb, S. (2024). Measuring the third mission of European universities: A systematic literature review. Society and Economy, 46(2), 147-167. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1556/204.2023.00030.
10. Frondizi, R., Fantauzzi, C., Colasanti, N., & Fiorani, G. (2019). The evaluation of universities’ third mission and intellectual capital: Theoretical analysis and application to Italy. Sustainability, 11(12), 3455. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su11123455.
11. Higgins, K., Kelly, G., Munck, R., Kelly, U., & Grounds, A. (2024). Exploring an innovative method for objectively assessing the social value of university-community engagement and research. Methodological Innovations, 17(1), 19-30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/20597991231212237.
12. Gaffaro García, A. J., Pico Bonilla, C. M., & Reyes Vergara, M. L. (2026). Proposal and validation of a system of indicators to measure the Third University Mission in Colombian higher education institutions. Revista Tendencias, 27(1), 148-177. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22267/rtend.262701.290.
13. UNICOM. (2023). Universities-Communities: Strengthening cooperation (Erasmus+ KA2 CBHE Project No. 101083077, 2023–2027). Retrieved from https://unicom.community/en/unicom-home/.
14. Nesterov, M. O. (Ed.). (2025). The third mission of universities: Implementation guidelines. A methodological manual. Sumy: Universytetska knyha. Retrieved from https://lib.iitta.gov.ua/id/eprint/748776/1/University-Third-Mission%20%281%29.pdf [in Ukrainian].
15. Orzhel, O., Boichenko, M., Petroie, O., Tsymbaliuk, S., & Shofolova, N. (2024). Social inclusion in higher education: Theoretical and conceptual foundations, target groups, dimensions and indicators. Kyiv: Institute of Higher Education of NAES of Ukraine. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31874/978-617-7486-46-5-2024 [in Ukrainian].
16. E3M Project. (2012). Final report of Delphi study: European indicators and ranking methodology for university third mission. Retrieved from https://www.pi.infn.it/~giorgio/INFN/3M/E3M/Delphi-E3M-project.pdf.
17. Polytechnic University of Valencia. (2012). Green Paper: Fostering and Measuring «Third Mission» in Higher Education Institutions. European Indicators and Ranking Methodology for University Third Mission (E3M Project). Valencia. Retrieved from https://repositorio-aberto.up.pt/bitstream/10216/118583/2/311212.pdf.
18. IREG Observatory on Academic Ranking and Excellence. (n. d.). U-Multirank: IREG inventory of international university rankings. Retrieved from https://ireg-observatory.org/en/initiatives/international-ranking?rankingid=15.
19. European Education and Culture Executive Agency. (2026). EHESO European Higher Education Sector Observatory. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2797/2717417.
20. European Commission, & OECD. (n. d.). HEInnovate. Retrieved from https://www.heinnovate.eu.
21. Times Higher Education. (2026). Sustainability impact ratings 2026: methodology. Retrieved from https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/sustainability-impact-ratings-2026-methodology.
22. ANVUR. (2015). Evaluating the Third Mission at Italian Universities: An Evaluation Manual. Retrieved from https://www.unipa.it/dipartimenti/bi.n.d./.content/documenti/manuale-valutazione-TM-Anvur-2015.pdf [in Italian].
23. Higher Education Statistics Agency. (2025). HE-BCI record 2023/24: Coverage of the record. Version 1.1. Retrieved from https://www.hesa.ac.uk/collection/c23032/introduction.
24. Komisja Ewaluacji Nauki. (2025). Preparation and evaluation of reports on the impact of research activities on society and the economy: A guide for evaluated entities and evaluators. Warsaw. Retrieved from https://polon.nauka.gov.pl/pomoc/knowledge-base/podrecznik-dla-ekspertow-oraz-ewaluowanych-podmiotow-w-zakresie-opisu-wplywu-dzialalnosci-naukowej-na-funkcjonowanie [in Polish].
Received: [03.07.2026]
Reviewed: [24.07.2026]
Accepted: [31.07.2026]
Published: [31.08.2026]
