ANALYSIS OF INNOVATIVE AND ENTREPRENEURIAL POTENTIAL OF FIVE WESTERN BALKAN UNIVERSITIES SUPPORTED BY THE HEINNOVATE INITIATIVE

Abstract

Higher Education Institutions (HEI) are crucial for solving societal challenges and encouraging exchange of knowledge and lifelong learning. Moreover, HEIs can be drivers for transformation and innovation when they engage with the environment. Academic education offers students a chance to get acquainted to the latest developments in their field and to get a clearer view on how to implement them in business in the future. In this regard, the European Commission and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development developed comprehensive online guidance and self-assessment tool for HEIs, widely known as HEInnovate. The platform provides opportunity for HEIs to self-assess various statements related to entrepreneurial activities, including leadership, staffing and links with business. This research is based on the HEInnovate platform as an assistance for five Western Balkans Universities located in Albania, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina to become even more innovative, entrepreneurial and to generate values for the society. The research is conducted from May-August 2022, thus involving the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic in the universities’ endeavours to become more entrepreneurial. The research is conducted as part of the project “Reconnecting universities and enterprises to unleash regional innovation and entrepreneurial activity / KnowHub”, co-funded by the European Union under the Erasmus + programme KA2 – Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices – Capacity Building in the field of Higher Education, which supported the establishment of five Commercialisation Hubs at each of the participating Western Balkan Universities.