As part of the UNICOM project, scientists of Sumy National Agrarian University learned about the third mission of higher education institutions during a scientific seminar in Germany.
On October 16-19, 2023, the seminar “THIRD Mission in Germany from national policy to University experience” was held at the University of Applied Sciences Fachhochschule des Mittelstands (FHM) in the city of Bielefeld, located in Germany. At this event, Sumy NAU was presented by Marharyta LYSHENKO, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Management, and Tetiana KHARCHENKO, Associate Professor of the Department of Public Management and Administration.
Professors Dr. Volker WITTBERG and Dr. Rulf TREIDEL presented the activities of the university, introduced the participants to international and local FHM projects, and presented successful cases of cooperation between the educational institution and business. Professor Dr. Annett WOLGHAST presented the L2C and ADA projects, which include examples of small and medium-sized enterprises’ paths to the circular economy and research in the field of women’s entrepreneurship development. Elisa GOLDMANN presented GobeEco, a modern tool for gamification of environmentally friendly habits in adult education. As part of the “EyesOnCS” project, which aims to develop innovative solutions and specific educational products that prepare students and workers without IT knowledge to work safely in the digital world, professor Dr. M. LEISENBERG conducted a practical case study on cyber literacy “Escape Room”. The project manager of the University of Greifswald, Suzanne HENNE, presented the innovative concept for the development of Western Pomerania “One Health” within the framework of the BMBF T!Raum One Health initiative.
An example of constructive cooperation between business and university at the local level in Germany is the Fraunhofer research institution (Lemgo). The representative of the industrial automation department, Nissrin PERES, presented the participants of the seminar with a wide range of opportunities that act as a catalyst for the development and dissemination of the results of applied research, increasing the attractiveness of scientific developments for instructors and students
Professor Dr. Ingo BALLSCHMITER and Dr. Henning DUDERSTADT noted the importance of innovative responses to rapid technological changes, the transition to renewable energy sources, and changes in consumer behaviour. In this context, the Open Innovation City project shows that innovative ideas are present everywhere in society and that all spheres of the city, i.e. politics and administration, business and associations, education and research, as well as citizens and civil society, can develop their future together. The Open Innovation City concept, as noted by Dr. Mirko PETERSEN, includes highlighting problems and providing users with creative solutions. The participants of the seminar actively took part in the discussion of innovative cases that were successfully implemented in different regions of Ukraine and directions that need implementation within the framework of the universities third mission realization.
Under the conditions of significant transformations of the educational technology industry, the activities of the Founders Foundation are aimed at forming a sustainable ecosystem of B2B startups, which unites “new and old enterprises”, and also actively promotes the digital future of the region.
More about the UNICOM project: https://unicom.snau.edu.ua/.
