Abstract

The study analyses the participation of Chilean university academics in Third Mission (TM) activities. It focuses on their perceptions of the significance of these efforts for institutional development, their professional careers, and their social impact. The analysis of data from the Academic Profession in the Knowledge Society (APIKS) survey reveals that the faculty is predominantly involved in social, cultural, and educational activities. This reflects a tradition of social and cultural engagement in Chilean and Latin American universities. However, there is less involvement in industrial and entrepreneurial activities, such as patents, licensing, and business creation. Academics acknowledge the significance of TM activities in their teaching and research, which may suggest the integration of TM with the core functions of the university. Additionally, potential areas for future research are proposed, such as incorporating TM activities in performance evaluations and investigating obstacles to collaboration with industry.