A major barrier to universities' Third Mission is (under)funding?
While universities across Europe increasingly embrace their Third Mission, financial reality tells a different story. According to the EUA Trends Report 2024, only 39% of institutions have leadership dedicated to engagement, and just a quarter receive funding on par with education and research. As institutions strive to connect research with real-world impact, the persistent underfunding of engagement and innovation threatens to stall progress, weaken partnerships, and limit the transformative potential of higher education. ACEEU evaluates HEIs’ commitments via standards such as Institutional Commitment, Financial Planning, and Leadership.
Projects
ACEEU's European Projects Unit is excited to start four new Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnerships projects this year! We also celebrated #Erasmus Days, which was held October 13–18 and showcased the many international collaborations funded by the EU.
COCO exemplifies how dedicated frameworks and innovative partnerships can sustain higher education’s Third Mission despite chronic underfunding, strengthening institutional commitment, leadership, and impact-driven collaboration between HEIs and civil society.
ECO-merce shows how innovation and collaboration can mitigate funding gaps by integrating sustainability, digital skills, and entrepreneurship in higher education, which helps strengthen institutional leadership and societal impact through practical, value-driven learning.
AI Researchers reinforces higher education’s innovation capacity amid funding constraints by integrating AI literacy, ethical research practices, and institutional leadership, advancing sustainable, future-oriented excellence across Europe’s research ecosystems.
GreenEdge exemplifies how HEIs can sustain their Third Mission despite limited funding by integrating AI-driven, gamified learning with entrepreneurship education, which is helping promote leadership, innovation, and sustainability in higher education.
ACEEU’s accreditation and events support and foster engagement in higher education. We are collecting and promoting individual and institutional actions that successfully realise the Third Mission.
New Publication
Current Practices & Emerging Futures of Higher Education: Entrepreneurship and Engagement in Latin America, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific and Africa has been published!It is a collection of 19 inspiring, best practice articles from around the world. Contributors participated in a panel discussion this September in anticipation of the book's launch.
37 participants from 21 countries shared experiences and expertise in funding procurement during these collaborative sessions in Prague. They also pitched projects to find potential partners. These forms of international cooperation are essential for increasing outreach and engagement opportunities in higher education, bringing research and education to society.
Spotlight Magazine
ACEEU's Spotlight Magazine is an opportunity for authors to share their success stories. Read the most recent articles to learn how to increase your personal or institutional capacity for engagement!
Engaged Excellence
Dr. Man Fung Lo outlines his own professional journey of scholarly engagement, community service, and industry connections in his Spotlight article. His multi-level engagement is helping to create more impactful collaborations between higher education and society.
Petr Adamek describes his work building the Canberra Innovation Network (CBRIN) as a neutral backbone organization, demonstrating how universities, government, and industry can co-invest to cultivate a thriving “rainforest” innovation ecosystem across the Australian Capital Territory.
Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities (ACEEU), Wilhelm Schickard Strasse, 14, Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia 48149, Germany
