University to Society Collaborations – SCiDEV presents preliminary research findings

SCiDEV as leader of USIA Work Package 1 on need assessment has successfully concluded the presentation of research findings at each partner university regarding university to society collaborations. SCiDEV team of researchers shared preliminary and key findings to academics and university staff at the Mediterranean University of Albania, Universiteti i Shkodrës “Luigj Gurakuqi”, Universiteti “Aleksandër Moisiu”, European University of Tirana, and Professional College of Tirana focusing on recommendations on how to enhance further the collaboration among research, policy, business, media and civil society within the Quadruple Helix Model. The five seminars organized in the first two weeks of July served also to discuss with USIA partner universities concrete recommendations for the upcoming USIA activities such as expanding the pilot schemes: Policy Challenge Fund and Second a Researcher; focus also on science and research communication as a cross-cutting issue and foster the role of the National Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation, as a partner of the project, to ensure the sustainability of the Quadruple Helix Model. In the coming weeks, the SCiDEV Team of Researchers is finalizing the full report in English and Albania including a detailed analysis of the current collaborations between university and society actors and recommendations for various stakeholders. In September 2021, a national event will be organized to present the report findings to wider audiences. The project “University to Society Innomediaries in Albania: Co-Production of knowledge and research that matters” / USIA is funded by the Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education Program of the European Union, led by the Mediterranean University of Tirana with11 partners from Albania, Italy, Serbia, and Germany. SCiDEV is in charge of WP1 Preparation in conducting the assessment, mapping, and research analysis of existing Quadruple Helix models in Albania and in the region.