Barriers to Third Mission: Organizational and Individual Antecedents

Abstract Barriers limit the development of relations between the university and its environment within the framework of the Third Mission. Although it is widely understood that barriers to successful collaboration and knowledge sharing between universities and other social agents exist, few studies have attempted to measure and map these perceived barriers or investigate what can mitigate them. In this context, this work aims to identify the factors affecting the barriers perceived by academics in their relationship with the environment. The study was based on data derived from a survey applied to a sample of academics categorized in the Sistema Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación of Colombia and related to six higher education institutions located in the Colombian Caribbean region. To analyze the data obtained, binary logistic regression models were established. The results obtained suggest that in addition to the orientation of the research activity, the perception that academics have about the existence of processes or support services for the university’s relationship with its environment is important to reduce the barriers perceived during the relationship. The foregoing implies that the institutions must progress with respect to the institutionalization of the third mission and in strengthening the functions of promotion, counseling, and support as well as promotion structures and, thus, being able to mitigate the barriers perceived in the process.