engleski

Universities and (regional) development: positive externalities creation

The necessity of human capital development is highly emphasized in the current conditions of national economies. Although its quantification could take in account a number of different components, human capital is most commonly associated with expression through the share of tertiary education, and participation in formal higher education processes. The importance of institutions of tertiary education and of universities is mostly linked to generation potential of the entire (regional) economic development. Except on the national level, regional level is recognized as a driver of regional economic changes and processes as well. Therefore, the observation of economic development is carried out at these lower territorial levels. This is evident through the increased number of research about universities impacts on regional development (f. e. Chakrabarti & Lester, 2002 ; Goldstein & Renault, 2004 ; Rutten & Boekema, 2009 ; Goddard & Puukka, 2010 ; Strauf & Scherer, 2008 ; Kantor & Whalley, 2013 ; Veugelers & Del rey, 2014). There are many positive externalities on the regional development resulting from the impact of universities. According to Regional Policy of European Commission (2011) areas that are exceptionally influenced by universities usually include business innovation, human capital development, community development and institutional capacity of the region whose interactions leads to proactive role in process of regional development. Some authors assert that the result of good connectivity and partnership between the universities and the region is creation of knowledge regions and a knowledge-based society. The aim of this paper is to emphasize mutual interaction of universities in regional economic development and creation of learning regions (knowledge regions). In doing so, the emphasis is on the positive effects that are produced in the region, and consequently the entire national economy.

human capital, universities, regional development

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