RE-ACT
Self-reflection Tools for Smart Universities Acting Regionally, hereinafter referred to as RE-ACT, is an Erasmus+ project that aims to exploit the potential of existing self-reflection tools, particularly HEInnovate, for the design and implementation of RIS3 (research and innovation strategies for smart specialisation).
Smart Universities Acting Regionally
supports HEIs to:
- Assess their current active engagement in the regional ecosystem and contribution for policy development;
- Lead HEIs to revise their strategies, structures and practices;
- From vision to action: support HEIs in becoming regionally embedded entrepreneurial smart universities;
- Debate and agree upon a joint positioning for HEIs as regional asset;
- Engage all the key actors of the quadruple helix and underpin a profound collaborative work among for RIS3 revision, implementation and monitoring;
- Offer peer support to quadruple helix networks from other regions, strengthening HEIS in their pivotal roles in igniting, cherishing and sustaining innovation.
Smart Universities Acting Regionally will then support HEIs to rethink and reposition their strategies, structures and actions through a holistic approach to innovation and entrepreneurship, regionally embedded and supported by collaborative links among key actors of the triple helix.
The core objectives
Objective #1
What do we want to achieve?
We would like to fully realise HEINNOVATE potential to support regional embedded and responsible Smart Universities to play a pivotal role in RIS3.
How do we do it?
- By adjusting HEIs individual and joint position as regional assets;
- By underpinning collaborative processes among key actors of the triple helix and quadruple helix;
- By supporting policy making for sustainable research and innovation.
Objective #2
What do we want to achieve?
We would like to promote an effective use of the Smart Universities Acting Regionally self-assessment tool in order to leveraging sustained organisational changes in HEIs.
How do we do it?
- Through collaborative processes with HEIs' regional congeners for a joint positioning on HEIs value for regional development;
- By capitalising the results obtained from these processes.
Objective #3
What do we want to achieve?
We would like to foster multi-stakeholder engagement in HEIs optimisation processes and in RIS3 design, implementation and monitoring processes.
How do we do it?
- By supporting their participation in mixed approaches for decision making regarding the future of the region;
- By offering their views on HEIs current and potential positioning;
- By supporting relevant organisational changes in line with the business and regional needs.
Objective #4
What do we want to achieve?
We would like to mainstream RE-ACT resources and participatory processes, capacitating and enabling regions and their assets through HEIs invigoration.
How do we do it?
- By directly supporting other HEIs and key actors from the triple helix and quadruple helix to fully use and benefit from the Smart Universities Acting Regionally self-assessment tool;
- Through the designed training programmes for capacity building and the organized collaborative activities.
Objective #5
We would like to ensure the continuous improvement of the performance and timely/effective implementation of the project work plan, as well as the high-quality, relevance, innovation, usability, and sustainability of the project results.
How do we do it?
- By designing and updating the Project Roadmap
- By asking partners' for feedback
Objective #6
We would like to make as many stakeholders as possible aware of RE-ACT and to mainstream RE-ACT resources and participatory processes, capacitating and enabling regions and their assets through HEIs invigoration.
How do we do it?
- By engaging key actors in the project activities;
- By furthering the sustainability of the project methodologies, resources, and results.
Objective #7
What do we want to achieve?
We would like to successfully implement the project and achieve its ambitions and objectives.
How do we do it?
- By establishing and nurturing effective communication and joint learning among partners;
- By promoting collaborative work among partners.
Key project results
- UNIVERSITIES ACTING REGIONALLY ONLINE SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOL AND SUPPORTING RESOURCES
- CAPACITATION PROGRAMMES AND RESOURCES FOR HEIS AND REGIONAL ACTORS
- HEIS' SELF-ASSESSMENT, ORGANISATIONAL ACTION PLAN AND JOINT POSITIONING
- RIS3 DESIGN AND OTHER COLLABORATIVE PROCESSES LEVERAGED BY HEIS AND ENGAGING KEY ACTORS OF THE TRIPLE HELIX
- TRANS-REGIONAL SPILLOVERS UNDERPINNED BY A VALIDATED FRAMEWORK AND FACILITATED BY AN EFFECTIVE PEER SUPPORT MECHANISM
- WHITE PAPER WITH POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR UNIVERSITIES ACTING REGIONALLY
