THE RESPONSE OF HEIs TO REGIONAL NEEDS *

Within advanced economies, there is a growing concern that teaching and research within universities should be directed towards specific economic and social objectives. Nowhere is this demand for ‘specificity’ more clear than in the field of regional development. Whilst they are located ‘in’ regions, universities are being asked by a new set of regional actors and agencies to make an active contribution to the development ‘of’ these regions. These demands are driven by new processes of globalisation and localisation in economic development, whereby the local environment is as relevant as the national macro economic situation in determining the ability of enterprises to compete in the global economy. Within this environment, the local availability of knowledge and skills is as important as physical infrastructure and as a result, regionally engaged universities can become a key locational asset and powerhouse for economic development.