Understand HEInnovate & the 8 Dimensions
Get an overview of the HEInnovate framework and its eight dimensions. These resources help you grasp the core principles of HEInnovate and provide clear explanations of each dimension.
Each statement in the self-assessment has a corresponding guidance note. These notes explain what the statement is looking at and provide examples of how institutions can address it.
These reports analyse the higher education system of a specific country through the lens of the HEInnovate framework. They were conducted by the OECD in partnership with the European Commission between 2015 and 2021.
Get inspired by other HEIs
Learn from the experiences of higher education institutions across Europe. Explore case studies that showcase diverse practices and provide inspiration across the eight HEInnovate dimensions. Find testimonials that illustrate how institutions are using HEInnovate in practice. Discover real-life lessons and outcomes.
You can view and download case studies that showcase different institutional approaches and good practices along the eight dimensions of HEInnovate.
Read about the different uses and experiences of higher education institutions using the HEinnovate framework. The user stories also highlight lessons learnt and results achieved.
Implement HEInnovate in your institution
Support for you and your institution to work with the HEInnovate framework in a structured, collaborative way. Workshop Guides and Training Materials help you plan, deliver, and follow up on workshops of all sizes.
A comprehensive guide to HEInnovate. It explains the features of the website, how to set up groups, and describes three types of workshops you can run.
Short chapters from the Training Manual with focused advice on how to run different types of workshops, set the agenda, and decide whom to invite.
Turn insights into action
Transform your HEInnovate results into practical next steps. These tools help institutions prioritise actions, engage teams, and move from assessment to implementation, to ensure continuous, meaningful improvement.
Concise cards summarising practical actions aligned with each HEInnovate dimension. Use them to spark discussions and identify priorities.
Visual tools and worksheets to document goals, map short- to long-term actions, and organise activities into work packages. Includes the Action Planning Board, Work Package Planning Board, and Action Sheet.
All resources
by Ana Teresa Martins Ferreira de Oliveira Abstract: The Polytechnic University of Viana do Castelo in Portugal is using the connections created through HEInnovate to forge international networks and bring Europe to the rural region where the university is located. What is your role, and what is the context of your institution? I, Dr. Ana Teresa...
by Paolo Bertolero Abstract: Staff at the University of Turin (UNITO) in Italy are using results from their HEInnovate self-assessment to make a case to their University board about the need for amplified attention and resources in order to provide a designated meeting place and increase student awareness and staff support for their 2030 Academy...
by Marisol Rico-Cortez Abstract: Professor Marisol Rico-Cortez at Jönköping University in Sweden is using her experience at HEInnovate workshops to co-create an international network of stakeholders using HEInnovate and encourage management at her institution to interact with the self-assessment tool. Could you share more about your background and...
By Prof. Dr Radmil Polenakovikj Abstract: At the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, the HEInnovate self-assessment tool has proven to be a very practical and insightful resource. It has been used both for our own institutional assessment and to support other HEIs through international projects such as...
by Sebastian-Aurelian Ștefănigă Abstract: The West University of Timisoara in Romania is using HEInnovate as part of their mission to become a more entrepreneurial institution, taking inspiration from the self-assessment, webinars, and training sessions. How does the West University of Timisoara foster entrepreneurship at an institutional level...
by Katarina Pavlovic Abstract: The Faculty for Project and Innovation Management at Educons University in Serbia is applying their experience with HEInnovate to establish their own entrepreneurship advisory board as well as building strong connections between students and local industry. After the participation from Katarina Pavlovic in the Train...
This comparative case study examines how Delft University of Technology (Netherlands), Czech Technical University (Czechia), and the University of Tartu (Estonia) are integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into teaching, learning, and research. Each institution has developed AI-specific programmes, research centres, and staff training to build...
The Biotechnical Faculty at the University of Ljubljana (UL) promotes entrepreneurial thinking among students and staff through both curricular and extra-curricular activities. Key courses include Entrepreneurship for master’s students and Bioeconomy, which covers commercialization and business modelling. Extra-curricular activities include a...
The Smart Education at Schools (SEATS) programme, part of the Smart Education Research Programme led by imec and the KU Leuven itec group, helps Flemish teachers develop tech-based solutions to educational challenges. Teachers submit project proposals, and selected ideas receive €75,000 to be co-developed with schools, researchers, and industry...
Abstract: HEInnovate was used within the U!REKA Alliance to assess institutional strengths and identify areas for development across 7 partner universities. The process revealed both strengths and weaknesses among members, fostering valuable peer learning and supporting the alignment of development priorities. HEInnovate proved to be a practical...
The European Bioeconomy University (EBU) is an alliance of eight higher education institutions (HEIs) with a dedicated focus on the bioeconomy. The institutions are from different European countries: Austria, France, Germany, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Sweden. The bioeconomy is that part of the economy that is concerned with the...
Business incubators have long been integral to higher education, fostering strong connections between universities and regional business sectors. This comparative case study, part of the HEInnovate initiative, explores the establishment and operation of incubators to support entrepreneurs and innovators in collaboration with higher education...
The University of Antwerp (UAntwerp) has entrepreneurship as an explicit educational priority. It is a member of the Young Universities for the Future of Europe European University Alliance (YUFE). The University sees an urgent need to reform doctoral education to deliver more entrepreneurial graduates equipped with open science competences and to...
Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences (HHN) is a relatively young higher education institution in one of Germany's economically most dynamic regions. Entrepreneurship, responsible entrepreneurship, in particular, is one of HHN’s strategic objectives. In 2017, HHN founded Startklar, a central coordination unit with the mission to strengthen...
Lund University (LU) is located close to a science park in a region with numerous incubators and start-ups in a rather densely populated area. The University uses its strategic location as a source of competitive advantage by strongly collaborating with local established companies, start-ups, student organisations, support services and incubators...