The University's "Third Mission": Exploring the Potential of University Campuses in Interaction with Urban Communities

Abstract

City universities play a leading role in the formation of the educational, socio-cultural, intellectual environment of the city. At the same time, a new paradigm of interaction between universities and citizens is being formed as part of the implementation of the idea of "cities as communities of citizens", when urban communities become full-fledged subjects of city development along with city authorities. In this regard, the subject of the study was to identify the potential of the university in interaction with urban communities. Research methods: survey, focus group interview with elements of brainstorming. The study involved representatives of various urban communities of Moscow (N=170), students, teachers of the Moscow State Pedagogical University (N=358). The results of the study. The priority areas of interaction between university campuses and urban communities can be identified as: educational (counseling and support of citizens, courses, clubs, webinar programs, clubs for children and adults, lectures; popularization of topics at the request of communities; supervision and care); diagnostic; research; volunteer; sports and recreation; infrastructure; cultural and leisure; expert; development of the city's infrastructure. When building such interaction, it is important to take into account: regulatory and legal aspects of providing university infrastructure to urban communities and attracting teachers and students to implement educational programs for citizens of different ages; the financial side of interaction with urban communities; requests from urban communities; psychological and organizational aspects of interaction with urban communities; interaction with municipalities and representatives of district administrations, educational and other organizations working with the public and interested in the resources of the university.