IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/tefoso/v215y2025ics0040162525001374.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Evaluating a university public engagement model through outreach projects: Professors' involvement and measurement implications

Author

Listed:
  • Ortiz-Rojo, Ramón Andrés
  • Lacruz, Adonai José

Abstract

The contribution of universities to society has been widely discussed; however, further exploration is needed regarding faculty engagement in this contribution and how such engagement can be measured. This study aims to empirically test a developed instrument and assess the fit of a model that examines professors' involvement in outreach projects as a means of contributing to the measurement of university public engagement. To this end, unlike previous studies, which mainly focus on the institutional perspective of university public engagement, this study centres on professors as its focal point. A Confirmatory Factor Analysis was conducted to assess the proposed model's validity. Data were analysed to evaluate the perceptions of professors involved in outreach projects from federal universities and federal institutes in Brazil. The results indicate that the Confirmatory Factor Analysis successfully validated the instrument (scale) developed and the model to measure university public engagement trough outreach projects professors' involvement. This study contributes to future research and practice by enhancing our understanding of professors' involvement in publicly engaged universities and its broader societal impact, offering a validated model for its measurement. In doing so, these findings offer new insights for university management and policymaking by systematically measuring professor-driven public engagement.

Suggested Citation

  • Ortiz-Rojo, Ramón Andrés & Lacruz, Adonai José, 2025. "Evaluating a university public engagement model through outreach projects: Professors' involvement and measurement implications," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:215:y:2025:i:c:s0040162525001374
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2025.124106
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040162525001374
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.techfore.2025.124106?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sugawara, Carmen Luca & Kim, Hea-Won & Modić Stanke, Koraljka & Krasniqi, Vjollca & Basic, Sanela, 2023. "The role of community-university engagement in strengthening local community capacity in Southeastern Europe," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    2. Youtie, Jan & Shapira, Philip, 2008. "Building an innovation hub: A case study of the transformation of university roles in regional technological and economic development," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(8), pages 1188-1204, September.
    3. Andrea Vargiu, 2014. "Indicators for the Evaluation of Public Engagement of Higher Education Institutions," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 5(3), pages 562-584, September.
    4. David J. Weerts & Lorilee R. Sandmann, 2010. "Community Engagement and Boundary-Spanning Roles at Research Universities," The Journal of Higher Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 81(6), pages 632-657, November.
    5. Shiri Breznitz & Maryann Feldman, 2012. "The engaged university," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 37(2), pages 139-157, April.
    6. Loet Leydesdorff & Henry Etzkowitz, 1998. "The Triple Helix as a model for innovation studies," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 25(3), pages 195-203, June.
    7. Michaela Trippl & Tanja Sinozic & Helen Lawton Smith, 2015. "The Role of Universities in Regional Development: Conceptual Models and Policy Institutions in the UK, Sweden and Austria," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(9), pages 1722-1740, September.
    8. Sánchez-Barrioluengo, Mabel & Benneworth, Paul, 2019. "Is the entrepreneurial university also regionally engaged? Analysing the influence of university's structural configuration on third mission performance," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 206-218.
    9. Mtawa, Ntimi N. & Fongwa, Samuel N. & Wangenge-Ouma, Gerald, 2016. "The scholarship of university-community engagement: Interrogating Boyer's model," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 126-133.
    10. Sea-Jin Chang & Arjen van Witteloostuijn & Lorraine Eden, 2010. "From the Editors: Common method variance in international business research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 41(2), pages 178-184, February.
    11. David Audretsch, 2014. "From the entrepreneurial university to the university for the entrepreneurial society," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 39(3), pages 313-321, June.
    12. Letizia Lo Presti & Giulio Maggiore & Vittoria Marino & Riccardo Resciniti, 2024. "Inclusion and social justice in sustainable higher education: An integrated perspective through the lens of public engagement," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 28(3), pages 771-809, September.
    13. Abreu, Maria & Grinevich, Vadim, 2013. "The nature of academic entrepreneurship in the UK: Widening the focus on entrepreneurial activities," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(2), pages 408-422.
    14. Peter Arbo & Paul Benneworth, 2007. "Understanding the Regional Contribution of Higher Education Institutions: A Literature Review," OECD Education Working Papers 9, OECD Publishing.
    15. Perkmann, Markus & Salandra, Rossella & Tartari, Valentina & McKelvey, Maureen & Hughes, Alan, 2021. "Academic engagement: A review of the literature 2011-2019," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(1).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Marco Bellandi & Annalisa Caloffi & Sara Masi, 2021. "Bottom-level organizational changes within entrepreneurial and engaged models of university: insights from Italy," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 46(4), pages 907-932, August.
    2. Baum, Chad M. & Sick, Nathalie & Bröring, Stefanie, 2025. "Drivers for the emergence of interdisciplinary knowledge areas: An actor-level perspective on building legitimacy for the case of synthetic life sciences," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    3. Compagnucci, Lorenzo & Spigarelli, Francesca, 2020. "The Third Mission of the university: A systematic literature review on potentials and constraints," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    4. Bernd Wurth & Niall G. MacKenzie & Susan Howick, 2024. "Not seeing the forest for the trees? A systems approach to the entrepreneurial university," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 63(2), pages 1-24, August.
    5. Richard Blaese & Schneider Noemi & Liebig Brigitte, 2021. "Should I Stay, or Should I Go? Job satisfaction as a moderating factor between outcome expectations and entrepreneurial intention among academics," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 17(3), pages 1357-1386, September.
    6. Christopher S. Hayter & Andrew J. Nelson & Stephanie Zayed & Alan C. O’Connor, 2018. "Conceptualizing academic entrepreneurship ecosystems: a review, analysis and extension of the literature," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 43(4), pages 1039-1082, August.
    7. Kamilla Kohn Rådberg & Hans Löfsten, 2024. "The entrepreneurial university and development of large-scale research infrastructure: exploring the emerging university function of collaboration and leadership," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 49(1), pages 334-366, February.
    8. Maria Abreu & Vadim Grinevich, 2024. "The entrepreneurial university: strategies, processes, and competing goals," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 49(6), pages 1991-2034, December.
    9. Carla Mascarenhas & Carla Marques & João J. Ferreira, 2020. "One for All and All for One: Collaboration and Cooperation in Triple Helix Knowledge Cocreation," International Regional Science Review, , vol. 43(4), pages 316-343, July.
    10. Petersen, Il-haam & Kruss, Glenda, 2021. "Universities as change agents in resource-poor local settings: An empirically grounded typology of engagement models," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    11. Tolin, Giovanni & Piccaluga, Andrea, 2025. "Commercializing technology from university-industry collaborations: A configurational perspective on organizational factors," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    12. Roncancio-Marin, Jason & Dentchev, Nikolay & Guerrero, Maribel & Díaz-González, Abel & Crispeels, Thomas, 2022. "University-Industry joint undertakings with high societal impact: A micro-processes approach," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    13. Henry, Colette & Lahikainen, Katja, 2024. "Exploring Intrapreneurial Activities in the Context of the Entrepreneurial University: An analysis of five EU HEIs," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    14. Carla Mascarenhas & Telma Mendes & Anderson R. Galvão & Carla S. Marques & João J. Ferreira, 2024. "Academic researchers’ motivations to engage in university–industry collaboration in cross-border regions," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 49(6), pages 2104-2134, December.
    15. Ruoying Zhou & Ning Baines, 2024. "To what extent do universities’ formal and informal knowledge exchange activities interact: evidence from UK HE-BCI survey," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 49(4), pages 1145-1175, August.
    16. Thomas Brekke, 2021. "What Do We Know about the University Contribution to Regional Economic Development? A Conceptual Framework," International Regional Science Review, , vol. 44(2), pages 229-261, March.
    17. Sánchez-Barrioluengo, Mabel & Benneworth, Paul, 2019. "Is the entrepreneurial university also regionally engaged? Analysing the influence of university's structural configuration on third mission performance," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 206-218.
    18. Kazuyuki MOTOHASHI & Qiuhan ZHAO, 2023. "University as a Knowledge Source of Innovation: A spatial analysis of the impact on local high-tech startup creation," Discussion papers 23027, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    19. Véronique Schaeffer & Sıla Öcalan-Özel & Julien Pénin, 2020. "The complementarities between formal and informal channels of university–industry knowledge transfer: a longitudinal approach," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 45(1), pages 31-55, February.
    20. Christopher S. Hayter, 2016. "A trajectory of early-stage spinoff success: the role of knowledge intermediaries within an entrepreneurial university ecosystem," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 47(3), pages 633-656, October.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:215:y:2025:i:c:s0040162525001374. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00401625 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.