Caucasus University’s Third Mission: Driving Societal Progress Through Education, Research, and Community Engagement

Abstract

The Third Mission refers to universities’ engage­ment in societal development beyond education and research, encompassing areas such as continuous education, knowledge transfer, and societal en­gagement. Caucasus University (CU) has incorpo­rated the Third Mission as a goal into its strategic framework and acted in several directions to build University’s 3rd mission capacity for societal impact and now prioritizes further investment in dedicated personnel, infrastructure, and long-term support to­wards this mission. The University’s 3rd mission role is highlighted by its participation in the Erasmus+ project ‘Strengthening the Quality and Relevance of the Third Mission in Georgian Universities (SQUARE)’. This initiative has strengthened CU’s role in connecting academia with societal needs, partic­ularly through its strategic Goal ‘P5’, which empha­sizes sustainable solutions for global and local chal­lenges. CU’s dedication to lifelong learning is show­cased through its Continuous Education programs, while its Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center facilitates knowledge and technology transfer. The Jean Monnet Center of Excellence (EUPOLTRANS) exemplifies CU’s commitment to empowering so­ciety through EU policy education, focusing on Georgia’s EU integration process. Furthermore, CU fosters global dialogue and local impact by hosting international conferences on the Third Mission, col­laborating with diverse stakeholders, and commenc­ing alignment of its activities with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through these initiatives, CU advances societal engagement, reinforcing its role as a civic institution aimed at driv­ing societal progress.