Universities at the service of regional development

Abstract

There is a considerable amount of literature on the regional development role of universities, with several consequences. On the one hand, due to the diverse nature of the topic, there still exist under-explored directions and untapped research opportunities, but on the other hand, for those just starting to get acquainted with the field, the multitude of trends and approaches that are somewhat difficult to overview can be disconcerting. The aim of this article is to provide an insight into the regional development role of universities, an area that has been present in the work of Professor Varga from the very beginning, who, in addition to cultivating regional sciences at the highest level, also created a school, supporting and mentoring of young researchers with enthusiasm and professionalism, and also considered it important to disseminate scientific results to the general public. In this spirit, our article aims to serve as an initial compass and overview for those who would like to explore the field, be they scientific researchers or interested non-professionals.