This review finds that Lombardy is the most prosperous region in Italy. But the region faces long-term challenges emerging from an ageing population, immigration and slow adaptation of practices and technologies to enhance productivity.

This publication explores a range of helpful policy measures and institutional reforms to mobilise higher education for regional development in the Free State of South Africa.

This publication explores a range of helpful policy measures and institutional reforms to mobilise higher education for regional development.

Higher education institutions (HEIs) in the Gauteng City-Region (GCR) and elsewhere are increasingly being called upon to do more than their traditional roles of teaching and research. They are now expected to collaborate and engage with other stakeholders with a view to contributing directly and indirectly to social and economic development in their localities. Such an orientation includes having HEIs actively fostering public-private partnerships and other initiatives that enhance equitable regional development. The adoption of such a focus has implications for all aspects of these institutions’ activities, as well as for the policy and regulatory framework in which they operate. This Occasional Paper reflects critically on the role of HEIs in regional development. It surveys current debates on the matter and draws out some of the implications on how we ought to think further about the current state of government-industryacademia interaction and collaboration for development in the GCR. It is motivated by an awareness of the increasing importance of higher education in the regional development discourse, alongside a body of international theory and practice on the contribution of HEIs to regional development. A cornerstone of this body of literature is the so-called ‘triple helix’ framework within which government, industry and academia work intimately, intensely and collaboratively towards a common vision of regional development. Within this framework, HEIs are considered to be a public good that must play a large, meaningful and relevant role in the development and improvement of the cities and regions where they are located.1, 2 They do not, and cannot, stand completely outside the realities of their geographic, social, cultural and political environment. The intended audience for this report extends beyond academics and HEI administrators to include government officials, business and labour leaders, civil society and citizens, because a discussion on stimulating and improving the GCR must be much more than an academic exercise. The collaboration that is essential to regional development requires stakeholders to be familiar with a wide spectrum of issues of importance to individual constituencies. Each constituency must add value and insight to the discussion by drawing on their specific knowledge, experience and self-interests. Establishing this common ground is fundamental to initiating meaningful debate about what the GCR can and should be, and how regional HEIs can work more collaboratively, creatively and effectively to improve and advance the region.

This follow-up to the 2001 OECD Territorial Review of Bergamo monitors progress over the past 15 years and reassesses the main development challenges the region faces.

This report studies green growth trends, challenges and opportunities in the City of Kitakyushu, Japan.

Identity and Internationalization in Catholic Universities explores the relationship between Catholic identity, mission, and internationalization in Catholic universities of different types and located in different contexts. Internationalization is a key concern for universities working to achieve their goals in different regions of the world but without neglecting their identity. There are many universities that consider themselves related to the Roman Catholic faith and many other universities with Christian affiliations. It is well known that Catholic universities have unique missions, such as the formation of individuals inspired by a religious conviction to serve society and the church. That is why it is imperative to have empirical knowledge to help develop practical and effective policies on central themes such as internationalization, a fundamental part of many universities’ developmental strategies, while paying special attention to each university’s specific context. This book includes sixteen case studies from Latin America, the United States, the Asia Pacific, and Europe, and also includes chapters on regional perspectives on Catholic higher education as well as more specifically Jesuit higher education, the global network of La Salle universities, and internationalization in the United States, Latin America, the Asia Pacific region, and Europe.