Periodic Reporting for period 2 - Accelerate_FutureHEI (Entrepreneurial & Innovative Universities Acceleration Programme)
Período documentado: 2024-01-01 hasta 2025-06-30
Accelerate Future HEI, is an initiative led by the University Industry Innovation Network (UIIN). It brings together twelve European partners from eleven countries with the ambitious goal of revolutionizing Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across Europe.
The context for this initiative arises from the recognition of a pressing need for HEIs to adapt and evolve in response to the rapidly changing landscape of education, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Traditional models of higher education are being challenged by technological advancements, globalization, and evolving societal needs. HEIs must embrace entrepreneurship and innovation to remain relevant and to equip students with the skills needed for success in the modern world.
The overall objective of Accelerate Future HEI is to equip HEIs with the necessary skills and capacities to drive institutional transformation towards entrepreneurship and innovation. This transformative journey is guided by a comprehensive methodology rooted in a three-phase approach, which includes in-depth gap analysis, strategic vision development, and the crafting of personalized Institutional Transformation Action Projects (ITAPs).
By engaging in this initiative, HEIs gain a unique opportunity to identify and address their key challenges, fostering the development of innovative solutions. Through personalized guidance, peer-to-peer support, and access to international experts, participating HEIs are empowered to reflect internally on their goals and undergo meaningful transformation.
The project consortium, comprised of international experts and established HEI consortia, ensures that participating HEIs receive the necessary support and resources to implement their initiatives successfully. By leveraging the UIIN Entrepreneurial and Innovative University Framework©, Accelerate Future HEI addresses the challenges and success factors associated with becoming more entrepreneurial, innovative, and engaged.
Moreover, Accelerate Future HEI is committed to ensuring its impact through dedicated monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, as well as the dissemination of transformation stories and policy implications. By harnessing the collective expertise, this initiative paves the way for European HEIs to emerge as entrepreneurial and innovative hubs, driving societal and economic progress across the continent. Ultimately, the expected impact of Accelerate Future HEI extends beyond individual institutions to encompass broader societal and economic advancement across Europe.
The context for this initiative arises from the recognition of a pressing need for HEIs to adapt and evolve in response to the rapidly changing landscape of education, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Traditional models of higher education are being challenged by technological advancements, globalization, and evolving societal needs. HEIs must embrace entrepreneurship and innovation to remain relevant and to equip students with the skills needed for success in the modern world.
The overall objective of Accelerate Future HEI is to equip HEIs with the necessary skills and capacities to drive institutional transformation towards entrepreneurship and innovation. This transformative journey is guided by a comprehensive methodology rooted in a three-phase approach, which includes in-depth gap analysis, strategic vision development, and the crafting of personalized Institutional Transformation Action Projects (ITAPs).
By engaging in this initiative, HEIs gain a unique opportunity to identify and address their key challenges, fostering the development of innovative solutions. Through personalized guidance, peer-to-peer support, and access to international experts, participating HEIs are empowered to reflect internally on their goals and undergo meaningful transformation.
The project consortium, comprised of international experts and established HEI consortia, ensures that participating HEIs receive the necessary support and resources to implement their initiatives successfully. By leveraging the UIIN Entrepreneurial and Innovative University Framework©, Accelerate Future HEI addresses the challenges and success factors associated with becoming more entrepreneurial, innovative, and engaged.
Moreover, Accelerate Future HEI is committed to ensuring its impact through dedicated monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, as well as the dissemination of transformation stories and policy implications. By harnessing the collective expertise, this initiative paves the way for European HEIs to emerge as entrepreneurial and innovative hubs, driving societal and economic progress across the continent. Ultimately, the expected impact of Accelerate Future HEI extends beyond individual institutions to encompass broader societal and economic advancement across Europe.
Activities performed and main achievements (M1–M30)
Over its first 30 months, the project has moved from understanding each university’s starting point to actively putting in place new services, training, and partnerships to drive change.
Understanding the starting point (first year)
The project began by analysing the situation in each participating university and its surrounding ecosystem. This involved mapping resources, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and gathering views from students, academics, professional staff, and leadership. Workshops and surveys helped partners to develop a shared vision for transformation, based on local needs and opportunities.
Designing transformation plans
Using these insights, each university created an Institutional Transformation Action Projects (ITAP) – a roadmap with specific actions and milestones for becoming more innovative and better connected to business and society. These plans focus on areas such as entrepreneurship education, research commercialisation, industry partnerships, and community engagement.
Putting plans into action
From 2024 onwards, the partners began testing and delivering new “acceleration services” to support their plans. These include:
-Mentoring tailored to each institution’s priorities.
-Practical working sessions to address challenges and share solutions.
-Training for leaders, academics, and professional staff to develop new skills.
-Workshops to help universities develop investment strategies for long-term sustainability.
Tracking progress and sharing results
An independent Acceleration Board is overseeing progress and providing advice. The project is also developing tools, case studies, and examples of good practice so that other universities can adopt similar approaches. Early signs show stronger engagement with external partners, more opportunities for students and researchers to develop entrepreneurial skills, and greater collaboration across the participating institutions.
By the end of the project in 2026, the nine universities will have embedded new ways of working that help them play a bigger role in driving innovation, supporting start-ups, and tackling societal challenges – and the tools and methods developed will be freely available for others to use.
Over its first 30 months, the project has moved from understanding each university’s starting point to actively putting in place new services, training, and partnerships to drive change.
Understanding the starting point (first year)
The project began by analysing the situation in each participating university and its surrounding ecosystem. This involved mapping resources, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and gathering views from students, academics, professional staff, and leadership. Workshops and surveys helped partners to develop a shared vision for transformation, based on local needs and opportunities.
Designing transformation plans
Using these insights, each university created an Institutional Transformation Action Projects (ITAP) – a roadmap with specific actions and milestones for becoming more innovative and better connected to business and society. These plans focus on areas such as entrepreneurship education, research commercialisation, industry partnerships, and community engagement.
Putting plans into action
From 2024 onwards, the partners began testing and delivering new “acceleration services” to support their plans. These include:
-Mentoring tailored to each institution’s priorities.
-Practical working sessions to address challenges and share solutions.
-Training for leaders, academics, and professional staff to develop new skills.
-Workshops to help universities develop investment strategies for long-term sustainability.
Tracking progress and sharing results
An independent Acceleration Board is overseeing progress and providing advice. The project is also developing tools, case studies, and examples of good practice so that other universities can adopt similar approaches. Early signs show stronger engagement with external partners, more opportunities for students and researchers to develop entrepreneurial skills, and greater collaboration across the participating institutions.
By the end of the project in 2026, the nine universities will have embedded new ways of working that help them play a bigger role in driving innovation, supporting start-ups, and tackling societal challenges – and the tools and methods developed will be freely available for others to use.
In the first 30 months, each university developed and began implementing an Institutional Transformation Action Projects (ITAPs)– a tailored roadmap for improving entrepreneurship education, research commercialisation, partnerships with business, and community engagement.
Key results so far:
-Comprehensive analysis of each institution’s starting point.
-Nine action plans launched with clear priorities and success indicators.
-Pilot acceleration services delivered, including mentoring, investment strategy workshops, and skills training.
-Peer learning events enabling partners to exchange solutions and strengthen their transformation efforts.
-Independent monitoring showing early progress in engagement with industry and regional stakeholders.
Potential impacts:
These changes are expected to create stronger university–industry collaboration, new opportunities for students and researchers, and a set of proven tools that can be adopted by other higher education institutions.
Needs for further uptake:
To maximise impact, partners will focus on securing funding to expand services, building links with other EU projects such as CATALISI and aUPaEU, and promoting results widely to encourage adoption beyond the consortium.
Key results so far:
-Comprehensive analysis of each institution’s starting point.
-Nine action plans launched with clear priorities and success indicators.
-Pilot acceleration services delivered, including mentoring, investment strategy workshops, and skills training.
-Peer learning events enabling partners to exchange solutions and strengthen their transformation efforts.
-Independent monitoring showing early progress in engagement with industry and regional stakeholders.
Potential impacts:
These changes are expected to create stronger university–industry collaboration, new opportunities for students and researchers, and a set of proven tools that can be adopted by other higher education institutions.
Needs for further uptake:
To maximise impact, partners will focus on securing funding to expand services, building links with other EU projects such as CATALISI and aUPaEU, and promoting results widely to encourage adoption beyond the consortium.