The research project “University–Industry Integration Policies and Practices in China – Potential Applications in Hungary” explores how Chinese models of university–industry collaboration can inform higher education development in Hungary. Led by Wekerle International University in cooperation with MCC’s Learning Institute, the project aims to promote institutional innovation, support bilateral partnerships, and offer practical strategies for university modernisation.
The research project “University–industry integration policies and practices in China – potential applications in Hungary” explores Chinese (national/provincial) policies and (local/institutional) practices related to university–industry integration (UII), with a special focus on leveraging university–industry cooperation (UIC) to support institutional development and reforms.
This two-year project is being implemented by Wekerle International University (WIU), with funding from the Hungarian Government (through the Tudás-Tér Alapítvány foundation), in cooperation with the Learning Institute of Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCCLI). The research is conducted under the professional leadership of a senior MCCLI researcher and is supported by an international advisory board.
The project aims to assist Hungarian higher education leaders in designing strategies and tools to strengthen UIC for institutional advancement. It also seeks to deepen academic partnerships between Chinese and Hungarian universities, promoting bilateral cooperation and mutual learning in the field of technological innovation. In addition, the project supports the upgrading of WIU – as the only Chinese-owned higher education institution in Hungary – by enhancing its role in attracting international students and advancing the internationalisation of Hungarian higher education.
The research is conceptually grounded in theories of knowledge transfer, the university’s third mission, the Triple/Quadruple Helix, and the Knowledge Triangle, while also incorporating distinctive Chinese approaches to university–industry integration. Emphasis is placed on using UIC as a tool for university modernisation, including concepts such as reverse and bi-directional knowledge transfer, where knowledge flows also from industry to academia.
The project adopts a broad definition of "industry", encompassing not only traditional manufacturing but also emerging sectors such as services and the creative industries – thus addressing the full range of the university’s third mission.
Methodologically, the project follows a qualitative research design, combining document and literature analysis, institutional case studies, hybrid-format workshops and conferences. Detailed case studies of UII policies and practices in various Chinese cities – with a focus on business studies, engineering, and creative industries – will provide empirical depth. Elements of action research will also be incorporated to support the immediate application of findings to institutional development at WIU.
Through this approach, the project seeks not only to generate new academic knowledge but also to stimulate practical change within universities.
Expected outcomes include a series of expert reports, detailed case studies, an analytical final report, academic publications, a toolkit for university leaders, and a concluding conference aimed at fostering new partnerships between Chinese and Hungarian universities. These outputs will contribute to developing sustainable models of UIC that support higher education innovation and bilateral cooperation.
More information about the project: UII Kutatási Projekt - Wekerle International University
