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.

Guidance notes

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.

Country reviews

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.

Case Studies

You can view and download case studies that showcase different institutional approaches and good practices along the eight dimensions of HEInnovate.

User Stories

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.

Training manual

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.

Workshop guides

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.

Action cards

Concise cards summarising practical actions aligned with each HEInnovate dimension. Use them to spark discussions and identify priorities.

Planning templates

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

  • User stories
Submitted on:
09 Jan 2019
Country:
Lithuania

For members of Kaunas University of Technology HEInnovate was introduced during a period of ongoing institutional change and increasing leaning towards entrepreneurship and interdisciplinary studies. The organised workshop not only led to an extensive growth in awareness of HEInnovate across the community, it was an excellent opportunity to engage...

  • User stories
Submitted on:
09 Jan 2019
Country:
Ireland

In 2015, Entrepreneurship was one of the three strategic strands for Dundalk Institute of Technology (DKIT) in Ireland. Consequently, a lecturer specialised in entrepreneurship was nominated by the President of DKIT to attend an Entrepreneurship Educators Module, which was being delivered for all higher education institutions (HEIs) nationwide by...

  • Case studies
Submitted on:
30 Oct 2018
Country:
Poland
Area of discipline:
Business and Economics

The SGH - Internationalised institution case study is about the effort to develop the international relationships of the HEI as an integral part of the development strategy, integrating this dimension toward different aspects of the HEI’s activities. Internationalisation could be considered both as a strategy for attracting staff, students and...

  • Country reviews
Submitted on:
05 Oct 2018
Country:
Netherlands

This publication presents the findings and recommendations of the HEInnovate review of the impact of higher education institutions (HEIs) on entrepreneurship and innovation in the Netherlands. The review assesses the strategies and practices of HEIs in the Netherlands in supporting entrepreneurship and innovation, along with the government policy...

  • Guidance notes

An entrepreneurial and innovative HEI exploits the opportunities of its digital capacity for inclusive and sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship through communication, collaboration and networking. Digital transformation creates possibilities for a much wider impact on the HEI, its staff, students and the stakeholder community. Therefore, an...

  • Guidance notes

Open educational resources, open science and open data practices have the ability to improve the effectiveness, quality and productivity of entrepreneurial and innovative education and research systems. Through open educational resources, students can access content anytime, anywhere and engage with enhanced and relevant material to support their...

  • Guidance notes

Greater engagement with digital technology provides opportunities for innovative curriculum design and delivery, new pedagogies, learning processes and assessment methods. This requires the associated development of digital competence and skills in staff and students. Digital technology in entrepreneurial teaching, learning and assessment has a...

  • Guidance notes

An HEI should integrate the design and organisation of its digital infrastructure to support innovation and entrepreneurship across all its activities. This includes for example the integration of its learning technologies and platforms, research and administrative systems, and supporting ICT services. All digital infrastructure needs to be managed...

  • Guidance notes

Digital tools and practices are drivers of innovation and entrepreneurship. An HEI should understand, explore, and promote new ways of working based on digital-first thinking. A well-functioning digital culture balances top-down leadership with bottom-up innovation. This includes a coherent and shared strategy and action plan, allocating resources...

  • User stories
Submitted on:
04 Jun 2018
Country:
Portugal
Area of discipline:
Engineering
  • Case studies
Submitted on:
09 Apr 2018
Country:
Germany

The University of Kassel is a public higher education institution located in the city of Kassel in the state of Hesse in the centre of Germany. It was founded in 1971 with the ambition to drive innovative concepts for practice-oriented teaching and learning as well as interdisciplinary work. As of the winter semester 2016/17, the University has 25...

  • Country reviews
Submitted on:
27 Mar 2018
Country:
Poland
Area of discipline:
Not associated to a discipline

Higher education institutions (HEIs) play a critical role in our societies. They provide the high-level skills needed for the modern economy, assist talented young people to transition into employment, generate and disseminate knowledge and innovation, and work together with business, government and civil society to promote economic and social...

  • Case studies
Submitted on:
27 Mar 2018
Country:
Poland
Area of discipline:
Not associated to a discipline

The Gdansk University of Technology2 (GUT) was established in 1945 in Gdansk; it succeeded the technical university founded in 1904.3 Gdansk is a port city in northern Poland on the Baltic Sea coast and one of the largest business, economic, cultural and scientific centres in Poland. Named in honour of the 17th and 18th century scientists who lived...

  • Country reviews
Submitted on:
05 Dec 2017
Country:
Hungary

European higher education systems increasingly have to change the way they operate due to the revolution in information and communication technologies, the financial crisis, global competition and pressure on budgets. One of the most significant changes in response to these challenges has been the development, both in concept and practice, of the...

  • Case studies
Submitted on:
28 Nov 2017
Country:
Hungary

Internationalisation of a higher education institution covers a very broad range of activities. Internationalisation can influence all aspects of a HEI, from the design and delivery of education, to research activities and relationships with the external environment, to knowledge exchange. Internationalisation should be understood as a catalyst and...