Spatial profiling of HEIs and the potential for regional innovation
systems in Ireland
Prof. Rob KitchinNIRSA, NUI Maynooth
Higher Education & Economic Development
Context – Innovation Ireland (2010); Smart Economy (2010)
National innovation ecosystem – complex entities• Entrepreneurs and enterprises• Investment in R&D• Education system, particularly HEIs (critical thinking,
creativity and innovation)• Finance (venture capital)• Tax and regulatory environment• Public policy and institutions
• “Knowledge is the currency of the innovation economy and the education system is pivotal in making innovation happen” (Innovation Ireland, p. 3)
Higher Education Landscape
Context – Higher Education Strategy (2011)
Key functions: (a) teaching and learning; (b) research and knowledge transfer;(c) external engagement
Themes: Increased participation, new types of graduates, support for economic, social and cultural development; internationalisation
A new framework for HE(a) mission differentiation (b) regional clusters – link with National Spatial Strategy(c) ‘directed diversity’ - end of laissez faire in higher education
Higher Education & Regional Organisation
• Context – existing functional territories of HEIs• HEIs in Ireland have a well defined set of
functional territories which map regionally• Some overlap of catchments, but fairly
differentiated• No one institution has a truly national catchment• Differentiation of vertical linkages
The UniversitiesNUIM DCU UCD TCD
NUIG UL UCC
IoTsCIT DIT DKIT
GMIT ITS WIT
Higher Education & Population Dynamics
• 1991-2011 increase of over 1m (almost 30%)
• Strong <19 demographic growth in next two decades
• Regionally differentiated in pop demographics and education profile re. lifelong learning
National Age Profiles• Third-level population potentials (15-19 age cohort) have
actually been in decline since 2002– State decrease of -9.6% between ‘02 and ’11– 283,019 within the 15-19 age cohort recorded in the 2011
Census – Meath is the only Local Authority with an increase (+2%)
National Age Profiles• Massive bulk of population coming down the line in all
regions/local authorities and catchments– State increases of
• +28.3% in 0-4 Age Cohort between 2002 and 2011• +21.5% in 5-9 Age Cohort between 2002 and 2011
– In ten years time this could lead to very high levels of Higher Education enrolment
Regional Age Profile Projections• Between 2006 and 2026 the number of young
persons (i.e. those aged 0-14 years) is projected to increase by 28.8% in the State as a whole– Projected Increases will vary across the regions (based on CSO
Regional Population Projections 2006-2026)
Example: NUIM Catchment• Approx 5,500 enrolments to NUIM over the last 3 years (based
on IT Feeder Schools – not inc. mature/international, etc)• Main catchment: Kildare (16.6%), Dublin City (12.4%), Meath
(9.5), South Dublin (9.5%), Fingal (8.6%), Louth (5.8%), Westmeath (4.1%) and Offaly (3.4%)
– Current 15-19 Age Cohort: 104,095– Current 10-14 Age Cohort: 110,355– Current 5-9 Age Cohort: 121,504– Current 0-4 Age Cohort: 139,949 (projected enrolment = 7,394)
Higher Education & Regional Innovation System• Given these contexts (economic policy, HE strategy, existing
regionalisation, population dynamics) one path forward is the active development of HE-led regional innovation systems
• Within regions, autonomous but connected HEIs work in competitive collaboration, sharing and aligning HE provision and engaging with a region’s civil society and public/private sectors
• At the same time retain and encourage diagonal and vertical linkages (cross-regional and international). Universities are national drivers of growth, not just regional drivers
• This has already begun to happen through SIF, PRTLI, SFI initiatives and HEI strategic alliances, industry partnerships
Higher Education & RISs
• From ‘districts’ & ‘clusters’ to ‘regional innovation systems’ (RIS)• RIS is more generic – emphasis on economic and social
relations and networks spanning the public & private sectors within regions embedded in national and global production systems.
• Regional Innovation Platforms Constructed Regional Advantage
• Regions recognised as key drivers of innovation – key attributes include density of actors, connectedness, knowledge bases, flexibility and mobility in labour markets
• HEIs as key players in regional innovation ecosystems – focus on human capital formation and enhancement, knowledge spillovers, translation and knowledge transfer mechanisms, catalysts for strategic partnerships, global networking –> potential for enduring transformations
RIS, types of HEI and mixKnowledge: domains, providers and diffusion
• Analytical – know why – ‘blue skies’ R&D• Synthetic – know how – applied science & engineering, • Symbolic – know who – creative arts & humanities
• In reality each type provided by most HEIs, but intensity and density of provision varies by HEI and region
• Institutional diversity a strength, but greater impact via system coherence• Highest levels of innovation and added value when all 3 combined
• RIS seeks to provide all three through collaboration and alignment to regional profile
• Need to recognize that:– HEI is complementary to regional development, but it is not subservient to
it. – the diverse roles of HEIs as sites of learning and the value of Engaged
rather than Entrepreneurial approach
Types of Higher Education Institutions
• Humboldt / Newman University --- focus on ‘formation of the person’• Engaged University --- origins in late C19th US land-grant universities• Entrepreneurial University --- ‘triple helix model’ based on new
relationships between academia, industry and government.
Entrepreneurial University
• Knowledge as a commodity to generate revenue for providers
• Knowledge value often determined by external agents guided by economic rationality
• Subservient to economic and political interests
Engaged University
• Knowledge as a public good supported by open science
• Knowledge value determined by peer assessment within the university system on basis of cognitive rationality
• Autonomy and fiduciary system are fundamental
Conclusions• HEIs are to come under increasing pressure over next two decades
– Huge demographic pressures to expand– Political pressure to serve society and economy in more explicit ways; to
provide more differentiated HEI landscape– Public/political pressure to be recognised as ‘world class’ institutions
• Under-resourced and uncoordinated incremental expansion problematic, at same time needs to be self-organising and organic and to retain autonomy
• One path forward is regional innovation systems that complement and strengthen regional economies whilst scaling to national and international HEI landscape
• Links together autonomous institutions into strategic alliances to provide complementary and differentiated HE teaching, research and engagement
• Such RIS in development, but at early stages• Requires alignment of other government policy such as National
Spatial Strategy and National Development Plan and investment
