The Social Third Mission of Universities: Towards a Unified Framework

Abstract

Universities, traditionally known for their primary roles in teaching and research, have expanded their mission to encompass activities aimed at contributing to the economic and social development of the regions in which they operate. This additional focus is known as the Third Mission of universities. While the economic contributions of universities through knowledge transfer and university-industry collaboration are well-established, the social impact of the Third Mission remains a complex and ambiguous concept. Universities are expected to create social impact without clear guidance as to what are the mechanisms they can apply to do so. Consequently, the interpretation and implementation of the social aspect of the Third Mission vary among universities, and some institutions may not engage in it at all. This study provides a timely and comprehensive overview of the existing literature on the diverse mechanisms employed by universities to engage with society and create social impact. We utilize a combination of descriptive analysis and systematic literature review of 112 peerreviewed articles to identify embedded and emerging Third Mission activities, clustered within the domains of Responsible Education, Knowledge Transfer, and Co-creation. Given the pressing societal and environmental issues we are facing, our study has important implications for universities and policymakers, as we propose a transformative framework for inclusive development for an expanded understanding of the Third Mission of universities and how it can be used to create and increase social impact.