THE ROLE OF THE UNIVERSITY IN REGIONAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

“With the parallel processes of globalisation and localisation, the local availability of knowledge and skills is becoming increasingly important. OECD countries are thus putting considerable emphasis on meeting regional development goals, by nurturing the unique assets and circumstances of each region, particularly in developing knowledge-based industries. As key sources of knowledge and innovation, higher education institutions can be central to this process.”

Source: OECD, ‘Higher Education and Regions: Globally Competitive, Locally Engaged’, 20 September 2007

 
UNIVERSITIES ACT, 1997

 The objects of a university include:

•         to advance knowledge through teaching, research and scientific investigation

•         to promote learning in its student body and in society generally

•         to promote the cultural and social life of society

•         to foster a capacity for independent critical thinking amongst its students

•         to promote the official languages of the State

•         to contribute to the realisation of national economic and social development

•         to educate, train and retrain professional, technical and managerial personnel

•         to promote the highest standards in, and quality of, teaching and research

•         to disseminate the outcomes of its research in the general community

•         to facilitate lifelong learning

•         to promote gender balance and equality of opportunity

UCC AS A MAJOR BUSINESS IN THE REGION

      •         16,000 students

•         Estimated student spend €160m

•         1,800 international students

•         Second largest employer in Cork with 2,500 staff

•         €224.9m annual spend, 67% of which is State funded

•         €86.6m research contracts, won through competitive processes, usually with international peer review

LINKS WITH BUSINESS IN THE REGION

      •         Source of qualified staff – Sir Robert Kane described the role of a university as “to educate young men for the active age and world in which we live” 
      •         UCC research supports the food, pharmaceutical, microelectronics, and energy industries 
      •         UCC provides access to specialised laboratory facilities and equipment to get new industrial research groups started -  e.g. GSK, PepsiCo and Lilly’s biopharma 
      •         Roadshows for the IDA
      •         Through applied research and consultancy UCC helps businesses to develop:
            -  new/improved products
            -  new/improved services
            -  process improvement for greater efficiency
      •         Pharmaceutical industry support was a key factor in UCC obtaining Government approval for the establishment of the School of Pharmacy

A WORLD CLASS REGIONAL UNIVERSITY

      •         World class regional universities are those that compete successfully on a global basis
      •         A world class regional university must:
            -         Deliver teaching and research to the highest international standards
            -         Create, acquire and disperse knowledge to the benefit of its region
            -   Integrate economic and social objectives

      •         UCC as a world class regional university:
            -         Brand recognition
            -         Student experience
            -         Internationalisation
            -         Knowledge creation and dissemination
            -         Innovation
            -         Regional collaboration

 BUILDING UCC’s CAPACITY FOR REGIONAL ENGAGEMENT

     
      •         Leadership and management at UCC
      •         Modern management and administration systems
      •         Mainstreaming the regional agenda and acknowledgement that regional engagement can enhance the core missions of teaching and research
      •         Enhancing the institutional capacity to deliver support needed by regional stakeholders
      •         Teaching, research and business activities that cut across disciplinary boundaries
      •         Participation that enhances regional engagement
      •         University governance that includes regional representation

UCC’S CONTRIBUTION: A PARTNERSHIP APPROACH

 Key partners:

      •         Government
      •         Schools
      •         Third level institutions – in particular CIT
      •         Regional business
      •         Cork Chamber of Commerce
      •         Local Authorities 
      •         HSE
      •         IDA / EI
      •          Community Groups
      •         Voluntary Bodies

UCC is committed to engaging constructively with all partners to ensure that the university contributes to the economic and social development of the region

A WORLD CLASS REGION  

•         World class regions are those that compete successfully on a global basis

•         The future economic and social prosperity of this region depends upon the combined efforts of academia, business, state agencies and local government to adapt and innovate

•         By building on our diverse strengths we can establish this region as a centre of excellence and innovation on the international stage

<<Previous ItemNext Item>>

« Back to 2007 Press Releases