Conference Program

Over time, universities have undergone significant transformations in their missions, evolving from institutions focused primarily on teaching to organisations integrating research and, more recently, broader societal engagement. This evolution culminated in the emergence of the university’s third mission, which extends beyond education and research to encompass economic, social, and cultural development.

In the Lithuanian academic discourse, relatively little attention has so far been paid to the third mission of universities. While this concept has been extensively analysed in the international literature, in Lithuania it is discussed only fragmentarily and is most often based on isolated examples of empirical studies or conceptual papers (Stonkienė & Matkevičienė, 2014). Universities declare the importance of the third mission and their commitment to creating social, economic, and cultural value in official strategic documents; however, it remains unclear how this mission is understood and implemented in practice.

The qualitative research method chosen for the study (semi-structured interviews) is a method that aims to understand social or human phenomena by examining the meanings, experiences and interpretations of participants in their natural context (Creswell and Creswell, 2022).The qualitative research method chosen for the study (semi-structured interviews) is a method that aims to understand social or human phenomena by examining the meanings, experiences and interpretations of participants in their natural context (Creswell and Creswell, 2022). A qualitative research approach is particularly appropriate for examining the third mission of universities because it enables an in-depth exploration of meanings, interpretations, and institutional perspectives that are shaped by social, organisational, and policy contexts. Ten interviews were conducted with Lithuanian state universities. For data analysis the content analysis was applied. It relies on sequential steps, thus ensuring depth of data interpretation (Silverman, 2024). Independent data analysis followed by consensus was applied. Two researchers independently analysed the data. The results were then compared, and similarities and differences were discussed until consensus was reached on the final analytical framework.

The analysis of scientific literature and the findings of the present study confirm that the University’s Third Mission is an essential, though conceptually complex and multifaceted, component of contemporary higher education. It extends beyond the traditional core missions of teaching and research and is fundamentally oriented towards meaningful interaction with society, addressing social, cultural, and economic challenges at local, regional, and broader levels.

The study demonstrates that the Third Mission is increasingly perceived as equal in importance to teaching and research and is becoming a strategically significant direction of university activity. Universities are positioned not only as knowledge producers but also as creative laboratories and innovation hubs embedded in everyday civic life. Through lifelong learning, inclusive knowledge transfer, social engagement, and collaboration with diverse stakeholders, universities contribute to social inclusion, civic creativity, and regional development.