This book investigates the complex mechanisms and systemic challenges that hinder higher education institutions from effectively contributing to regional socio-economic development. Edited by Paul Benneworth, Glen A. Jones, and Rómulo Pinheiro, the text compiles research from a global cohort of scholars to analyze the institutionalization of the 'third mission' of universities. By examining policy frameworks, organizational structures, and individual agency, the authors provide a comparative analysis of how universities navigate the tension between academic autonomy and regional engagement.

Experts identify this work as a significant contribution to the field of higher education policy, noting its systematic approach to a previously under-researched topic. Readers frequently highlight the academic density of the prose and the utility of its global comparative framework for institutional leaders and policymakers.