Listen to the interview to explore practical insights on how universities can drive social innovation and regional transformation:

acceleratefuturehei.eu/universities...

Drawing on his experience leading Simon Fraser University as Canada’s leading “engaged university,” he highlights a key message: Lasting regional impact happens when engagement is embedded into a university’s identity, aligned across leadership, culture, and rooted in partnerships with society.

At the USTP this mentoring is provided by Andrew Petter, President Emeritus and Professor Emeritus at Simon Fraser University. During a visit to USTP, Andrew took part in an interview:
“Drivers for Social Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship – How universities can contribute to regional impact?”

This includes Cohort Knowledge Exchange Events, Accelerate Training Workshops, as well as individual coaching and mentoring to provide expert guidance throughout the transformation process.

This meeting is an important moment to reflect on our 3 years of progress, align on the next steps to deepen impact across the partnership as we look to finalise our nine transformation projects.

More insights, outcomes, and photos, coming soon.

What’s on the agenda?

🔹 ITAP working session spell out ITAP led by UIIN
🔹 Impact workshop (WP6) led by TUM Int.
🔹 Infographics workshop (WP7) led by Momentum
🔹 Cohort knowledge exchange event

The publication also outlines the project’s methodology, and shared challenges, providing valuable insights for HEIs seeking to embed innovation, enhance capabilities, and develop sustainable strategies for long-term change.

Download the full report here: acceleratefuturehei.eu/results/

It highlights early signals of progress ,strengthened internal coordination, innovation structures, expanded stakeholder engagement, and growing student participation — showing how transformation is beginning to take root across diverse institutional environments.

From analysing current institutional contexts to developing tailored Institutional Transformation Acceleration Projects (ITAPs) and piloting acceleration services, the report charts the concrete steps taken by partner HEIs as they move from planning to implementation.

The groundwork laid during this phase is already shaping lasting change, fostering shared learning, and reinforcing a collective commitment to long-term institutional transformation.

Explore more insights from the project’s implementation: acceleratefuturehei.eu

This shift reflects a broader recognition across the consortium: true sustainability comes from embedding new ways of working, structurally and culturally.

Partner institutions are strengthening internal capacity through staff training, entrepreneurship initiatives, and evidence-based monitoring systems that inform strategic decision-making.

These priorities mark an important shift towards long-term impact.

Learn more about the project’s progress: acceleratefuturehei.eu/results/

The coming months will centre on:

🔹 Engaging in policy development to refine recommendations for the European Commission.
🔹 Completing monitoring and evaluation to ensure sustainable institutional change and reinforce HEIs as key actors in innovation ecosystems.

The coming months will centre on:

🔹 Enhancing mentoring and support, with stronger emphasis on context-specific expertise and impact evaluation.
🔹 Advancing knowledge capture and dissemination through case studies, toolkits, and best-practice guides.

The coming months will centre on:

🔹 Consolidating ITAP outcomes by aligning pilot initiatives and investment strategies with long-term transformation goals.
🔹 Strengthening peer learning networks through deeper collaboration, joint sessions, and shared service models.

As John Edwards (EURASHE) noted: “HEIs must be seen not only as knowledge hubs, but as active innovation actors in their communities.”

The event stimulated new perspectives and opportunities for collaboration across Europe.

Learn more at: acceleratefuturehei.eu/widera-siste...

For the first time, the three sister WIDERA projects, Accelerate Future HEI, aUPaEU and CATALISI, contributed jointly, offering shared perspectives on how Higher Education Institutions can evolve into active engines of innovation and societal impact.