New Functions of Universities in Century XXI Towards “Fourth Generation” Universities

Nowadays, many successful examples prove that universities havea significant role in the enhancement of different regions. The competitiveness ofregions is affected and altered by globalization and other background processes thatserve as arrangers of regional structure and for this reason they deserve attention.The modern economic development demands that due to the increased engagementtowards the society and economy, the traditional activities of the universities shouldbe diversified.To be able to optimally exploit their potential regarding economic development, thepresence of an outstanding educational culture it is necessary but not sufficient. It isalso necessary to maintain high standards in quality regarding research activities andto promote the utilization of results in the local economy. Beyond the well-knowntypology of the first, second and third generation of universities that describe the abovementioned processes, the concept of the „fourth generation” of universities emergedin international literature that depicts interesting facts that are worth consideringregarding the economic development activities of universities. The goal of this studyis to review and systematize the active and passive activities of universities thatenhance the competitiveness of a given region.We process the available ideas regarding the presence of „fourth generation”universities and we attempt to integrate these into the scientifically accountedframework of university generations.