The ‘Fourth Generation University’ as a Creator of the Local and Regional Development

Abstract

Beginning with a view of the role of tertiary‐level educational institutions in the globalizing world and the condition of the Polish higher education system in 2007, the author presents the factors affecting the regional development as well as those that exert the strongest influence on long‐term regional development. While examining current ventures undertaken by the Wyzsza Szkola Biznesu – National‐Louis University (WSB‐NLU), the author postulates a new model of higher education institution, ‘the Fourth Generation University’, which has a significant impact on its environment and also transforms itself. The postulated model has been supported by a brief description of a large project, launched in 2006, of the Nowy Sącz Network of Innovation and Knowledge Transfer and the Multimedia City.

Notes

1. In the Bill on Higher Education of 27 July 2005, Article 3 defines profiled university, technical university, polytechnics and academy.

2. “Zarządzanie wiedzą w społeczeństwie uczącym się” [Knowledge Management in the Learning Society]. Warszawa: OECD, Ministerstwo Gospodarki, Departament Strategii Gospodarczej, 2000, p. 38.

3. Available at ⟨www.strategializbonska.pl⟩.

4. In spite of the Bill on Higher Education, allowing partial financing of regular studies in non‐state universities (Part 5, Article 94), the Minister of Science and Higher Education has not issued the instructions concerning the conditions and the mode of subsidy application, making the law inapplicable.

5. Wrocław tried to obtain the location of the European Technological Institute financed by the EU.

6. Post Script : On 27 February 2007 the Government of Poland put the project of the Multimedia City on the indicative list of projects essential for the development of Poland and assigned €30 million for the realization of the first stage of the construction of the city.

7. A detailed description of the project can be found at ⟨www.multiklaster.pl⟩

8. The project of the Multimedia City fully complies with the assumptions of the 5 PO IG Priority and also conforms with Priorities 1,2,3,4.