Georgian HEIs have gone through significant changes, but 3M has so far occupied a minor place in their development agenda because they focused on the infrastructural development for their teaching and research. The project looks at this neglected issue, with the aim of expanding the cultural, social and economic contribution of HEIs through 3M activities. It acts at different levels: it secures the official support and encouragement for the regulatory bodies in favor of 3M and includes it as an integral role of the universities, for which they become accountable. The Ministry of Education and Science issues a position paper on 3M that clarifies the role of 3M and underlines the importance as one of the 3 main goals of the universities, along with teaching and research. The National Centre for Education Quality Enhancement updates the national QA system to integrate the 3M of universities adding criteria to the accreditation system and methodologies for assessment.Each of the 8 universities validates its strategy for 3rd mission development: Top management impetus is assured, resources are allocated and institutional support is granted, formalized in the annual activity plan of each institution. In each HEI, experts are trained to 3M strategic planning and 3M implementation and management. Based on the directions of the strategic plan, key activities are selected for implementation in each institution. All categories of 3M activities are covered (cultural, social and economic). These pilots validate the methodology and accelerate the cultural change in the universities, demonstrating the contribution that the institution makes to its environment through its third mission. Guidelines presenting the key learning points and best practices are developed and shared during the final conference of the project. They stimulate replication of the process (strategic planning and implementation in the other Georgian institutions.
SQUARE objectives were presented on three levels: 1. National - official recognition of the importance of 3M; 2. Evolution of the national QA system - to ensure that standards & methodologies are introduced to assess 3M; 3. Institutional - capacitation of top management to master the strategic planning instruments that allow them to evaluate the activities, plan their development and allocate the necessary resources to improve the way 3M activities are conducted and their impact measured.
Georgian HEIs have gone through significant changes, but 3M had so far occupied a minor place in their development agenda because the institutions focused on the infrastructural development for their teaching and research. The project looked at this neglected issue, with the aim of expanding the cultural, social and economic contribution of HEIs through 3M activities supported by corresponding legislative changes and updated external QA mechanisms for the societal development.
<< Background >> Georgian HEIs have gone through significant changes, but 3M had so far occupied a minor place in their development agenda because the institutions focused on the infrastructural development for their teaching and research. The project looked at this neglected issue, with the aim of expanding the cultural, social and economic contribution of HEIs through 3M activities supported by corresponding legislative changes and updated external QA mechanisms for the societal development. << Objectives >> SQUARE objectives were presented on three levels: 1. National - official recognition of the importance of 3M; 2. Evolution of the national QA system - to ensure that standards & methodologies are introduced to assess 3M; 3. Institutional - capacitation of top management to master the strategic planning instruments that allow them to evaluate the activities, plan their development and allocate the necessary resources to improve the way 3M activities are conducted and their impact measured. << Implementation >> SQUARE was implemented in due time and covered all the activities envisaged within the consortium and beyond. The process was based on the consensus between the partners and their dedication to fulfill their areas of responsibilities and relevant WPs. Despite the deviations caused by covid19, SQUARE consortium faced minor changes in the activities and results reaching all the objectives that was defined at the beginning making its impact on Georgian educational area. << Results >> Project resulted with: a. Vision paper by MoES of Georgia acknowledging the importance of 3M; b. NCEQE upgraded HEI authorization standards strengthening the assessment of 3M; c. Georgian HEIs in and outside of the consortium designed their 3M strategies supported by the guidelines provided by SQUARE partners as the result of the project implementation; d. impactful pilot 3M activities were conducted by partner HEIs; e. external stakeholders were actively involved in the implementation process.