Purpose Modern trends show that universities are searching for new solutions to increase efficiency and improve quality by considering approaches of quality system development that link with strategy and include extensive analysis of risks, processes and stakeholders. The approach that best fits the institution has to be in line with the institution’s strategic objectives, quality culture and policy and key performance indicators. The purpose of this paper and case study is to discover if sustainable development may be achieved by using an appropriate quality system development approach, such as the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) excellence model. Design/methodology/approach To analyse sustainability and development of the quality system adapted in a higher-education institution, a literature review of different quality management approaches and models was performed. The research includes a case study of the university’s quality management framework based on an adapted EFQM excellence model emphasising on strategic development in the context of sustainability. The key focus of the research is to discover how universities could better focus on sustainable development and benefit from a quality system based on an adapted EFQM excellence model. Findings Literature analysis indicated that some of the sustainability development activities a university may use are possible to be integrated through quality system models and development approaches. The findings from the literature suggest that the EFQM excellence model may provide a management framework and a comprehensive overview of a university for identifying necessary improvements and promoting the implementation of advancement activities on the road to sustainable development. The principles of the EFQM excellence model may guide in setting a strategic focus on sustainable development of universities. Originality/value Sustainability and sustainable development of a university are analysed in terms of quality aspects of higher education, and the research results reveal the main sustainability elements to be analysed and implemented through a university’s strategy and improvement processes. The Riga Technical University quality system called “RTU Excellence Approach” development analysis is given as a case study.

The aim of the study is using systematic literature analysis method -literature overview -identify the factors, which affect the competitiveness of a higher education institution in the conditions of globalization. Qualitative methods, as well as systematic literature analysis method -literature overview have been used in the study. More than 6000 scientific articles were considered to choose 20 full text articles for in-depth analysis. Main conclusions and results -the systematic literature analysis method -literature overview is a convenient tool for systematizing, selecting and collecting information about the research subject, using author's articles, which have already gathered key information from a number of researchers of a specific topic together; the competitiveness of higher education institution is influenced by the internal factors that are formed by the internal environment of the higher education institution and external factors that are formed by the external micro-environment and macro-environment influenced by the state policy; an analysis of the internal and external factors of an institution is important in order to create competitive advantages in a higher education institution.

No abstract

Purpose – the article aims to analyse the best practices in industry-university collaboration and based on theoretical background and practical experiences of universities to provide a framework for building a sustainable industry-university collaboration model, which indicates processes and steps as well as an example of Riga Technical University on how to create and maintain such collaboration. Research question – how to structure the activities for setting up the collaboration with industry based on the desired collaboration intensity. Hypothesis – universities can effectively organise collaboration with industry if they understand what the specific achievable results they want to achieve are. Research methodology – based on literature analysis, best practice and problems analysis of universities and Riga Technical University case analysis of university-industry collaboration, a model for improving collaboration with industry is proposed. Findings – to establish an effective and productive university-industry collaboration university must apply a structured approach of communication and collaboration of all internal parties involved in the process, what can be done by using the SADI Model for Building a Relationship between Universities and Entrepreneurs. For successful implementation of the university’s strategy of collaboration with industry-university must define the achievable results for such collaboration and apply the SADI Model at the appropriate intensity level – basic, medium or high level. Research limitations – such a model hasn’t been fully implemented, so the full spectrum of all activities and their performance hasn’t been tested yet, as the implementation of it requires the involvement of multiple university departments. As well a limited approbation of the model is done since it is tested within Riga Technical University. Practical implications – the model can be used in different intensity levels according to the university’s strategical aims and desired achievable results from the collaboration with the industry. Originality/Value – the article supplements previous research done in the field of university-industry collaboration, providing an approach “SADI Model for Building a Relationship between Universities and Entrepreneurs” on how to structure and organise the collaboration with industry within the university as well as provides structured approach on how to define activities to be implemented by university based on the desired outcomes form such collaboration.

No abstract