THE ROLE OF STRATEGIC ADMINISTRATION OF HIGHER EDUCATION FOR REGIONAL GROWTH

Abstract

This study examines the mechanism through which strategic management of higher education influences regional innovation development, using Zhejiang Province as a case. It addresses the current theoretical gap concerning the linkage between educational governance and regional economic performance. The research focuses on two central questions: (1) How does strategic management in higher education contribute to regional innovation and growth? (2) What are the intermediary roles of labor market matching and industry–education integration in this process? Based on a conceptual framework that connects strategic management with intermediary mechanisms and regional development outcomes, the study adopts a qualitative methodology combining literature review and structural mechanism modeling. The findings suggest that higher education strategic management not only promotes regional growth directly by optimizing institutional governance and resource allocation, but also indirectly fosters innovation capacity through improved alignment with labor market demands and strengthened university–enterprise collaboration. This dual-pathway model highlights the multifaceted impacts of education governance on human capital quality and regional competitiveness. The study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the interaction between education and regional development, and provides policy implications for local governments and universities to enhance governance capacity, strategic alignment, and innovation-driven regional growth.