Factors determining the operation of higher education institutions in the 21 st century

Abstract

Academic centres have an important role to fulfil in the process of building a knowledge- based economy. In order to pursue this ambitious task, they will leverage their resources as it is within universities that knowledge is generated and interpreted as an overarching resource of any learning organisation. The mission of universities is not limited to education or research and development only. At present, this mission is understood much more broadly: as a contribution which will enhance the economic potential of the region where the university is located. The latter task is by no means easy, especially when combined with an array of challenges that a tertiary education system is faced with in the 21 st century. Among them, one may mention globalisation of educational services, facilitation of knowledge transfer and technology transfer or steps to adjust the available curricula and programmes to the needs reported by the labour market.