External engagement of academics

Abstract

Over the past 40 years, there has been a continued debate about the role of universities in driving economic growth and the extent to which collaboration between the academic and non-academic sectors is a fundamental enabler of this role. In this context the engagement of individual academics with external organisations is considered an important channel for knowledge exchange between sectors. Many earlier studies of the engagement of academics with non-academic sectors have focussed on exchanges with industry and have largely been limited to commercialisation, consulting and joint research as knowledge exchange channels. Recent discussions, however, have shown the vast breadth these activities can take on. This chapter surveys the different forms of academic engagement with the public, private and third sector, notes the limitations of commonly used measures and points towards possible future research directions.