Academic interaction with external social partners: investigating the contribution of universities to economic and social development

Abstract

A lively debate on the relationship between the university and society in a developing country like South Africa is emerging. Academic Interaction looks at the main results of a research study on university interaction with external social partners. It centres on definitional boundaries around whether engagement requires new forms of knowledge that differ from traditional academic modes and around who is defined as 'the community' at local, regional, national or international levels. There is general agreement that the field is conceptually under-specified and theoretically rather thin. Academic Interaction presents a comprehensive data set stemming from research conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) on behalf of the National Research Foundation (NRF). The study aims to present not only an analysis of 'what exists' but also utilises an analytical approach that will encourage future debates to be more empirically informed, contextually grounded and hence conducted in a more rigorous and robust manner. This book will be of interest to higher education scholars across the globe as well as innovation systems scholars and university academics.