Позитивные изменения. Том 3, № 3 (2023). Positive changes. Volume 3, Issue 3 (2023)

MODEL 2: “UNIVERSITY + LOCAL COMMUNITY + DEDICATED INTERACTION SPACE”

The primary aim of this model is to align the academic knowledge, research capabilities, and creative potential of the university with the needs and ideas of the local community. A dedicated space is established for this purpose, which serves as a platform for interaction and collaboration among university entities, students, faculty, researchers, and local community members.

With this model, the university can grant the local community access to its research, technology, and infrastructure. It also fosters an environment where university students and faculty can engage with real-world issues and challenges facing local residents. This enables the participants to generate innovative ideas and solutions, apply them in practical settings, and assess their effectiveness.

Furthermore, the “University + Local Community + Dedicated Interaction Space” model cultivates entrepreneurial thinking and an innovative culture, not only among students but also within the broader public. Local entrepreneurs and representatives of the business community gain access to university resources and expertise, along with an opportunity to participate in the development and commercialization of social innovations.

This model promotes a favorable environment for collaborative work and the exchange of knowledge between the university and the local community. It drives the development of social projects and initiatives while contributing to the sustainable growth and well-being of the local community.

The “University + Local Community” model focuses on the interaction between the university and the local community without specifying the physical space where this interaction occurs. On the opposite, in the “University + Local Community + Dedicated Interaction Space” model, the physical environment is an additional consideration. This dedicated space may be located within the university campus or in another public area established specifically to facilitate interaction between the university and the community.

Hence, the “University + Local Community + Dedicated Interaction Space” model entails deeper integration and interaction between the university and the local community.

A good illustration of this model is the Wond’ry Innovation Center at the Vanderbilt University. It features 13,000 square meters of versatile facilities, from specialized areas and laboratories (such as art and virtual reality spaces) to educational opportunities. It is open to all students, staff, and local community members eager to bring their ideas to fruition.

One of the Center’s key activities of the center is the implementation of social impact programs. This track includes three projects carried out throughout the academic year:

1. Social Venture Think Tank (SVTT)[146]

A competition to develop new technological solutions for the local NGOs to achieve significant social outcomes within the local community.[147]

2. Map the System[148]

Participation in this international competition, hosted by the University of Oxford and open to universities worldwide, involves searching for systemic solutions to social issues. Winning the domestic competition held at Vanderbilt University is a prerequisite to compete on the global stage.

3. Coffee Equity Lab[149]

The Coffee Equity Lab project offers students an opportunity to study such topics as climate change, global trade, equality, and justice, all through the lens of the global coffee industry.

Furthermore, students can engage in the Hult Prize, a competition for ideas solving pressing social issues through social entrepreneurship. While the competition has an international scope, Vanderbilt University hosts a regional selection stage for participants.