Assessing the impact of universities on society: a framework based on McCowan’s theoretical contributions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5212/PraxEduc.v.22.26997.001Abstract
This theoretical article aims to discuss the challenges and possibilities involved in assessing the impact of universities on society and to propose a framework based on Tristan McCowan’s theoretical contributions. Methodologically, it systematizes analytical categories drawn from the author’s studies published between 2014 and 2025, encompassing the anatomy of the university, the constituent elements and stages of impact, and the risks associated with the “impact agenda.” As a result, the article presents a visual representation of the framework, highlighting the normative, relational, process-based, and context-dependent nature of university impact. The study concludes that the approach proposed by the author seeks to move beyond linear causal relationships and standardized impact assessment metrics by drawing on an analysis of the university’s functions, its degree of porosity in its interaction with society, the temporalities involved, and the values that guide institutional practices. The framework offers an open and adaptable approach to supporting critical, ethical, and context-sensitive impact assessment practices.
Keywords: Impact assessment. Higher Education. University and society.
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