Assessing the Contribution of Higher Education to Regional Development

Abstract

The paper deals with the issue of assessing the contribution of higher education to regional development. The study aims to analyze new ways of assessing the contribution of universities to regional development using such indicators as (1) their contribution to the local economy, (2) their role in human capital development, and (3) their contribution to the regional innovation system. We offer an objective assessment of the contribution of higher education to the regional economy by determining the relationship between personnel training and industrial specialization characteristics. Admissions are assigned to the transparency of regional education systems and the migration of university graduates. In general, regional industry specialization justifies regional contribution to the national gross domestic product. Therefore, regions that produce goods with a high share of value-added will always have advantages. The authors argue that quantitative indicators for assessing the role of universities in regional development should be supplemented with the results of sociological surveys that can be posted on digital platforms and services.