Foreword

This publication presents the findings and recommendations of the Geography of Higher Education of Québec, Canada. Considering the policy context, it explores the local and regional impact of higher education institutions (HEIs) on entrepreneurship, innovation and growth. The review was undertaken by the OECD in partnership with the Council of Innovation of Québec (CI) and the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy (MEIE) of Québec as part of the programmes of work of the OECD Local Economic and Employment Development (LEED) Committee and of the OECD Committee on SMEs and Entrepreneurship (CSMEE).

The Geography of Higher Education views HEIs as indispensable actors in driving local growth and well-being in their communities. Whilst the most visible manifestation of this role is often seen in the creation of start-ups, this represents only the tip of the iceberg of a broader system of interactions that HEIs can generate within their communities and networks. Unleashing the full potential of HEIs can support the development of transversal skills, and in turn, drive innovation.

Considering this feature, and in response to growing interest from local and regional policy-makers, businesses, civil society, and higher education representatives, the OECD launched a series of thematic reviews to generate evidence and collect good practices on complementarities among higher education, entrepreneurship, innovation, and regional development policies. As part of the EECOLE platform, the Geography of Higher Education Reviews aim to address these demands. EECOLE connects HEIs’ representatives, policy makers, and civil society to promote a multidimensional and multistakeholder policy dialogue centred on places, businesses, and people.

The review is part of the Geography of Higher Education Task-and-Finish Group (TFG), operating under the aegis of the Entrepreneurship Education Collaboration and Engagement (EECOLE) platform hosted by the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions, and Cities. The TFG is producing a “Handbook on the geography of higher education” which will capitalise on international case studies to identify and classify good practices.

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