GENERAL INFORMATION
TAM title: Responsibility and Impact: The Societal and Sustainability Missions of Higher Education Institutions
Type of Event: Conference and roundtable discussions
Modality: Presential
Location: Israel Center for Addiction and Mental Health, Hebrew University campus, Jerusalem
Country: Israel
Dates: 4–5 November 2025
Participants: Participants included faculty members and administrative staff working in international project offices, career services, and social engagement units across Israeli universities and colleges. The audience also included institutional leadership and representatives of national authorities involved in the “Academia 360” initiative.
THEMES COVERED
- Social and community impact of higher education institutions
- Higher education’s third mission and civic engagement
- Institutional strategies for academic impact
- Measuring and evaluating social and community impact of research
- University–community relations and stakeholder engagement
- European and international perspectives on academic impact
KEY OUTCOMES
During the workshop, participants:
- Gained a clearer understanding of institutional approaches to civic engagement and social impact in higher education.
- Compared Israeli and European practices in promoting the third mission of universities.
- Identified the importance of moving from project-based activities to sustainable, institution-wide strategies for academic impact.
- Strengthened dialogue between higher education institutions, policy makers, and community stakeholders.
OVERVIEW
The presential TAM was delivered in the format of an academic conference combined with roundtable discussions, focusing on the social and community impact of higher education within the framework of Israel’s “Academia 360” initiative. The event brought together higher education institutions, policy makers, and community representatives to explore how universities can move beyond traditional teaching and research roles towards structured, institution-wide civic engagement strategies. The expert contributed through a keynote presentation showcasing the Hellenic Mediterranean University’s actions to enhance employability and societal engagement.
A core component of the TAM was the facilitation of a roundtable discussion on social and community impact in research contexts. Discussions addressed performance indicators for measuring impact, concrete case studies demonstrating societal benefits, and methods for engaging communities in research activities. Site visits to Bar-Ilan University and the Sami Shamoon College of Engineering complemented the conference by identifying concrete pathways for future EU–Israel cooperation in education, research, and social engagement.
THE FOLLOW UP ACTIVITY
Title of the activity: Academia 360 Forum Meeting
Dates: 17 November 2025
Audience: Approximately 30–40 participants, including representatives of higher education institutions participating in the Academia 360 initiative, policy makers from the Council for Higher Education (CHE) and the Planning and Budgeting Committee (PBC), and members of the Academia 360 committee.
Description: The follow-up online meeting aimed to operationalise the outcomes of the TAM by supporting institutions in implementing changes related to higher education’s social and community impact. Two higher education institutions presented their strategic programmes and curricula developed under the Academia 360 initiative, followed by peer-to-peer discussion. The meeting facilitated exchange of practices, strengthened communication channels among participating institutions, and supported continued implementation of Academia 360 through shared learning and policy dialogue.
ENHANCING IMPACT: PROPOSED NEXT STEPS
- Strengthen institutional governance support (human and financial resources) for civic engagement and social impact activities.
- Promote institutional collaboration among higher education institutions to share tools, models, and good practices on academic impact.
- Integrate social and community impact objectives into institutional strategies rather than relying on isolated projects.
- Continue exposure to European best practices and case studies related to higher education’s third mission.
RESOURCES AND BACKGROUND MATERIAL
- Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (n.d.). Education, economic and social outcomes. Available at: https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/education-economic-and-social-outcomes.html
- Watson, D., Hollister, R., Stroud, S. E. & Babcock, E. (2011). The Engaged University: International Perspectives on Civic Engagement. New York: Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group. Available at: https://www.routledge.com/The-Engaged-University-International-Perspectives-on-Civic-Engagement/Watson-Hollister-Stroud-Babcock/p/book/9780415824224
Please log in or sign up to comment.