Worldwide university representatives discuss the third mission in Ingolstadt

Worldwide university representatives discuss the third mission in Ingolstadt

The University Conference Uniservitats, organized by the Catholic University (KU) and the Social Impact Start-Up Academy (Sistac), started in Ingolstadt today. The conference is entitled "Service-Learning meets Business Education: Strategies for Effective Integration and Competency Development" and gathers numerous representatives of Catholic universities from all over the world. The event continues the talks that were previously started at the Uniservitate Symposium in Rome. The aim is to further develop the Third Mission - the social responsibility of universities.

KU President Prof. Dr. During the opening, Gabriele Gien emphasized how important the knowledge transfer is as part of the Third Mission for Catholic universities. She found that the KU is an outstanding example of how scientific studies and the common good -oriented commitment can be combined. In this context, the university regularly cooperates with partners from different areas, including social, cultural, sporting, ecological and educational institutions.

keynotes and future symposium

At the conference, Prof. Dr. André Habisch and Eva Wack a keynote that treated the promotion of an entrepreneurial mindset and key competencies. María Rosa Tapia, program coordinator of Uniservitate Argentina, also spoke about the relevance of knowledge transfer at eye level. In this context, a global uniservitate symposium for November was announced at the KU, which is intended to promote the expansion of the thought of the service learning.

The Third Mission of universities relates to the exchange with society and business and has been defined in the E3M project since 2012, which has developed standard indicators for this concept. Social responsibilities include the promotion of sustainability, education for sustainable development and social dimensions in university formation. Today's universities are perceived as a key player for competitiveness and solving social problems, especially in highly developed economies.

Connection of research and society

The concept of the Third Mission, as is anchored in the overall Austrian University Development Plan (GUEP) 2019-2024, promotes integrated approaches between academic knowledge, social engagement and innovative solutions. Universities are required to include participative concepts such as Citizen Science and thereby consolidate their role as a socially responsible and regionally committed institutions.

In this spiritual exchange and knowledge and technology transfer, the KU is at the top of its responsibility and effort to implement these important topics. The dialogue, which is funded by events such as the Uniservitate Conference, is crucial for future developments in university formation and its effects on society.

For more information about the conference and the concept of the Third Mission, please visit the website of the , specialist portal pedagogy and the bmbwf .