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RESEARCH CENTER FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT PROBLEMS of NAS of Ukraine (KHARKIV, UKRAINE)

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Liburkina L. M.

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Formation and Assessment of the Efficiency of University Clusters in the Context of Regional Development
Chaika I. P., Kononenko O. А.

Chaika, Inna P., and Kononenko, Olena А. (2026) “Formation and Assessment of the Efficiency of University Clusters in the Context of Regional Development.” Business Inform 7:254–265.
https://doi.org/10.32983/2222-4459-2026-7-254-265

Section: Education and Science

Article is written in English
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UDC 330.131.5:378.4]:332.1

Abstract:
This article summarizes the results of the scientific discussion on the role and mechanisms of forming university multi-center clusters as a tool for regional development and implementation of the «third mission» of universities. The main aim of the research is to develop theoretical foundations and methodological approaches to the formation and assessment of the efficiency of such clusters, taking into account international experience and the specifics of the Ukrainian context. The systematization of literary sources and approaches to solving the problem of interaction of universities with the external environment testified to the growing attention of scientists to cluster initiatives as an efficient mechanism of combining education, science and practice to promote the socioeconomic development of territories. The relevance of solving this scientific problem lies in the need to enhance the role of Ukrainian universities in regional development, stimulate innovative activities, and improve the competitiveness of local economies in the face of global challenges and transformations. The authors’ contribution to solving the studied scientific problem lies in defining the fundamental principles of forming a multi-centered university cluster, developing a conceptual model of its functioning based on the analysis of the successful experience of the Ruhrvalley38 industrial-university cluster (Germany), and proposing a methodology for evaluating the efficiency of such clusters, considering the specifics of socially significant projects. The study of the formation and efficiency assessment of multi-centered university clusters in the article follows the following logical sequence: the relevance of the research is substantiated and its aim defined; a literature review is conducted on the conception of the «third mission» of universities and cluster initiative experiences; fundamental principles for forming the institutional foundation of a multi-centered university cluster are formulated; the project-based approach and interaction formats of the Ruhrvalley38 university-industrial cluster are analyzed to identify possibilities for its adaptation to Ukrainian conditions; a conceptual cooperation scheme within a multi-centered university cluster is proposed; a methodology for assessing the efficiency of a multi-centered university cluster is developed, using the socially significant educational project «University of the Tertiary Age» as an example, applying a qualimetric approach. The methodological tools used in this study include methods of systematization and generalization of scientific literature, comparative analysis, modeling, expert surveys, and qualimetric evaluation. The object of the research is the process of formation and functioning of multi-centered university clusters, as well as the assessment of their efficiency based on a specific socially significant project. These clusters serve as key elements in implementing the «third mission» of universities and contribute to their integration with the external environment. The proposed conceptual scheme of cooperation in a multi-center university cluster involves establishing close interaction between the research and production cycles, as well as the creation of a permanent project office to coordinate innovation activities. The study empirically confirms the possibility of using a qualimetric approach to assess the efficiency of socially significant projects implemented within university clusters, using the example of an existing project. The results of the expert assessment confirmed the practical value of the proposed methodology. The scientific novelty of the obtained results lies in the development of the theoretical foundations for the formation of multi-centered university clusters based on the integration of synergy principles, social orientation, and holistic marketing. For the first time, a conceptual model of cooperation among cluster participants has been proposed, along with a methodology for assessing the efficiency of their activities using a qualimetric approach adapted for the evaluation of socially significant educational projects. The practical significance of the results obtained lies in the possibility of using the developed theoretical foundations and methodological approaches for the formation and assessment of the efficiency of university multi-center clusters in Ukraine, which will contribute to the activation of innovative activity, the development of regions and the improvement of the quality of education. The proposed methodology for assessing efficiency can be applied to monitor and improve the activities of existing and future university cluster initiatives.

Keywords: third mission of universities; multi-centered university cluster; project-based approach; efficiency; qualimetric approach; holistic marketing.

Fig.: 2. Tabl.: 6. Formulae: 2. Bibl.: 15.

Chaika Inna P. – Candidate of Sciences (Economics), Associate Professor, Associate Professor, Department of Management, Poltava University of Economics and Trade (3 Ivana Banka Str., Poltava, 36003, Ukraine)
Email: [email protected]
Kononenko Olena А. – Senior Lecturer, Department of Business Foreign Languages, Poltava University of Economics and Trade (3 Ivana Banka Str., Poltava, 36003, Ukraine)

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