W. Strielkowski, V. V. Kaftan, E. N. Korneeva. Universities in Regional Development: The Role of Territorial Absorptive Capacity in Three Czech Regional Cases

https://doi.org/10.15507/2413-1407.26343.478-497
EDN: https://elibrary.ru/nihmec ISSN 2413-1407
УДК / UDC 322.1:378(437.1/.2) ISSN 2587-8549

Abstract

Introduction. In the context of increasing territorial unevenness in economic development, the search for effective mechanisms for aligning scientific and educational potential with regional growth strategies is becoming increasingly important. The relevance of this study stems from the need to bridge the gap between universities' contribution to the global scientific agenda and their ability to stimulate local economic renewal, especially in less developed regions. The presence of a university does not automatically guarantee regional renewal; the effects depend on the territory's ability to absorb and utilize knowledge. The aim of this study is to identify the conditions under which the activities of universities and higher education institutions become drivers of regional development, using three cases from the Czech Republic: Ústí nad Labem University (J. E. Purkyně University), Vysočina Region (Jihlava Polytechnic College), and Olomouc Region (Palacký University in Olomouc).

Materials and Methods. A qualitative comparative study was conducted at the meso-level (region).
The unit of analysis was the “university – region” configuration. Cases were selected using purposive sampling with maximum variation: they represent various territorial structures (post-industrial, rural production, and internally divided regions) and different types of universities (comprehensive, applied polytechnic, research). Data sources included official indicators from the Czech Statistical Office (GDP per capita, unemployment rate, student enrollment) and third-party studies. The analytical procedure included structured comparison, pattern matching, and analytical synthesis.

Results. It is shown that universities and colleges face strategic overload: local stakeholders expect them to solve practical regional problems, while national funding systems reward prestige, publication activity, and globally significant research results. A comparison of three cases demonstrates that a university's influence on regional development is conditional: it increases with demand for qualified personnel, innovative firms, institutional intermediaries, and coordination between the university, government, and business.
In regions with weak absorptive capacity, knowledge and graduates are redirected outward.

Conclusion. The conclusion is that less developed regions benefit most not from simply expanding higher education offerings, but from integrating universities into a broad development coalition capable of transforming knowledge into locally rooted economic and social renewal. The results are useful for regional authorities, municipalities, university administrators, relevant ministries, and innovation agencies
in developing territorially differentiated strategies.

Keywords: regional development, universities, peripheral regions, territorial absorptive capacity, brain drain, third mission of the university, strategic overload, Czech Republic, qualitative comparative research

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

For citation: Strielkowski W., Kaftan V.V., Korneeva E.N. Universities in Regional Development: The Role of Territorial Absorptive Capacity in Three Czech Regional Cases. Russian Journal of Regional Stu­dies. 2026;34(3):478–497. https://doi.org/10.15507/2413-1407.26343.478-497

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About the authors:

Wadim Strielkowski, Dr.Sci. (Econ.), Professor, Senior Research Fellow, Cambridge Institute for Advanced Studies (23 King St., Cambridge CB11AH, United Kingdom), Senior Research Fellow, Prague Business School (1145/29 Werichova St., Prague 15200, Czech Republic), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6113-3841, Researcher ID: J-6112-2017, Scopus ID: 36620065300, strielkowski@cantab.net

Vitaly V. Kaftan, Dr.Sci. (Philos.), Professor, Professor of the Chair of Mass Communications and Media Business, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation (49/2 Leningradskii Prospekt, Moscow 125993, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9381-4860, Scopus ID: 57216525719, SPIN-code: 4599-8580, vvkaftan@fa.ru

Elena N. Korneeva, Cand.Sci. (Econ.), Associate Professor, Associate Professor of the Chair of Mass Communications and Media Business, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation (49/2 Leningradskii Prospekt, Moscow 125993, Russian Federation), Associate Professor of the Institute of Engineering and Environmental Safety, Togliatti State University (14 Belorusskaya St., Togliatti 445020, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2735-6299, Researcher ID: AAF-8011-2020, Scopus ID: 57190658874, SPIN-code: 2344-9298, ENKorneeva@fa.ru

Contribution of the authors:

W. Strielkowski – conceptualization; methodology; project administration; data curation; investigation; formal analysis; validation; visualization; preparation, creation and / or presentation of the pub­lished work.

V. V. Kaftan – methodology; investigation; formal analysis; validation; writing – original draft preparation.

E. N. Korneeva – methodology; investigation; formal analysis; validation; writing – original draft preparation.

Availability of data and materials. The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the authors on reasonable request.

The authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 17.04.2026; revised 08.07.2026; accepted 15.07.2026.