HEIs are a force for social transformation. They are often one of the major employers in a locality and their existence will impact on the local economy and social wellbeing. The objective of a HEI in research, teaching, industrial and community collaboration is the improvement of society and the quality of life.

This comparative case study looks at how Dublin City University (DCU, in Ireland), the University of Innsbruck (IBUK, in Austria) and the Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo (IPVC, in Portugal) have developed their networks with the non-profit (say, social) sector with the aim of encouraging social entrepreneurship, particularly among their students.