Proceedings of the 12th European Conference on Knowledge ...

Natalia Tikhomirova et al
global character <strong>of</strong> activities fostering <strong>the</strong> integration <strong>of</strong> national economies into a world economic
area and providing an access to new markets, ideas and technologies.
The above mentioned principles also concern <strong>the</strong> education system to full extent. Globalization <strong>of</strong>
education entails <strong>the</strong> joint endeavors <strong>of</strong> universities within <strong>the</strong> framework <strong>of</strong> international education
networks, consortiums and associations <strong>of</strong> educational institutions, as well as <strong>the</strong> integration <strong>of</strong>
science, education and business through technological parks, collaborative competence centers and
o<strong>the</strong>r alternative forms <strong>of</strong> interrelationship. To this end <strong>the</strong> system <strong>of</strong> knowledge management needs
to fur<strong>the</strong>r development to ensure an intensive and dynamic accumulation and use <strong>of</strong> intellectual
capital, to update a scientific and educational content, to make proper conditions for <strong>the</strong> development
<strong>of</strong> academic mobility <strong>of</strong> learners, researchers and teachers.
3. Transformation <strong>of</strong> Universities into innovation centers
The universities face new challenges in <strong>the</strong> Smart economy. The latter addresses <strong>the</strong> need to
reexamine institutional roles and organizational relationships in <strong>the</strong> higher education system to enable
<strong>the</strong> universities to reach new levels in teaching, learning, research and innovation performance.
(2008, Building Ireland's Smart Economy). The goal <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> universities is not only to improve <strong>the</strong> skills
and capabilities <strong>of</strong> learners but to ensure that <strong>the</strong> graduates possess <strong>the</strong> competences required to
Smart economy. An expanding emphasis needs to be on endeavors to increase participation in
lifelong learning and to ensure required up-skilling and reskilling.
The universities face <strong>the</strong> challenge to design a new configuration <strong>of</strong> educational environment, to make
qualitative changes in <strong>the</strong> curricula, study programs and content, to alter teaching and learning
methods.
Higher education institutions are concerned with setting out new organizational arrangements that can
facilitate higher productivity, effectiveness and performance through more effective concentration <strong>of</strong>
expertise, knowledge capacity and investment. The concentration <strong>of</strong> intellectual potential helps <strong>the</strong>
universities to function as innovation centers.
Nowadays <strong>the</strong>re are dozens <strong>of</strong> innovative universities in <strong>the</strong> world and <strong>the</strong> number <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se
universities in Russia is about 30.
The key characteristic features <strong>of</strong> innovative research universities are <strong>the</strong> following:
1. Research and development take a leading role in <strong>the</strong> universities' activity; <strong>the</strong>y aim at developing
innovations to be implemented in economy, on <strong>the</strong> one hand, and, on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r, at designing a
modern educational content to teach <strong>the</strong> students <strong>the</strong> updated achievements in research,
science and practice. Various research structures are set up: research institutes, laboratories,
research and education centers at <strong>the</strong> chairs, departments and <strong>the</strong> university.
2. The innovation research universities sustain <strong>the</strong>ir integration with advanced companies and
research organizations and create joint small innovative enterprises, competence centers,
transfer technology centers, technological parks, business incubators.
3. The universities support cooperation with each o<strong>the</strong>r to form alliances for collaborative research
and education activities based on <strong>the</strong> principles <strong>of</strong> academic mobility.
4. Students are actively involved into research and innovation activity on <strong>the</strong> principle "learning by
doing". The method <strong>of</strong> learning facilitates <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> research skills, capabilities to team
work and entrepreneurship.
5. The innovative universities widely implement advanced networking, smart technologies for
integrating science, innovation and education. For instance, Innovative Research Universities
(2011, Innovative Research Universities) are a network <strong>of</strong> seven comprehensive universities
committed to conducting research <strong>of</strong> national and international standing. The network develops
some recommendations on higher education, research and innovation and experience to achieve
best practices in teaching, research culture and organizational setting. It provides suitable
facilities for students and partners through collaboration in <strong>the</strong>ir up-skilling.
The <strong>European</strong> Consortium <strong>of</strong> Innovative Universities (2011, <strong>European</strong> Consortium <strong>of</strong> Innovative
Universities) consists <strong>of</strong> eleven universities and three overseas associate partners. It is a <strong>European</strong>
network aiming at <strong>the</strong> exchange <strong>of</strong> experience and best practices with research, education and
regional development to enhance performance.
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