University Social Mission in the Wartime under Knowledge Society

Abstract

The article is dedicated to the growing social role of universities under knowledge society and its revision during wartime and post-war revival. This role has not received due attention of Ukrainian scholars and higher education stakeholders; on the contrary, in western academic discourse university third mission (also referred to as social mission) is actively discussed and several studies on university roles during conflict and post-conflict recovery are available. The article aims at conceptualization of university third mission relevant for Ukraine’s higher education of today as the country is striving towards knowledge society, higher education modernization and its alignment with European Higher Education Area, as well as fighting against Russian Federation aggression and planning economic recovery and national revival.  Knowledge is a key concept in interpretation and definitions of three university missions: knowledge is generated or produced via research (second mission); it is disseminated and promoted via teaching and learning (first mission); the essence of the third / social mission is to apply knowledge for problem-solving and general societal benefit. Application of knowledge is not limited to technological innovations and know-hows and covers social, humanitarian, cultural, business and entrepreneurship, economic, political and other domains. Knowledge is becoming the major problem-solving tool; and demand for knowledge is growing among different categories of knowledge workers engaged in problem definition, decision-making and implementation in different economic sectors and spheres of life. Problems and challenges incurred by war make them the most serious grievances of today’s Ukraine. Multiple challenges faced by Ukrainian society, economy, territories, industries will require the wisdom of all Ukrainian higher education institutions and knowledge workers and can only be addressed effectively via innovative approaches and mobilization of many partners: local and international, academic and non-academic, private and public, non-profit and commercial. Due to their specific features (multidiscipline expertise, access to international knowledge sharing and good practices exchange, non-profit focus, multiple perspectives and diversity of opinions), universities like no other institutions are well-positioned to establish and run partnerships, project consortia, lead innovation ecosystems, catalyse and contribute to reconstruction and revival processes.