The purpose of this article is to review, from its confrontation with the international discussion, the analytical model proposed by Hoff, San Martin and Sopeña (2011) to analyze the impact of public universities in regional development. The model originally was developed from national reference to the subject. Therefore using the bibliographic and documentary research technique. The studied theoretical framework shows that the analytical model established with national references is shown corresponding to the discussion presented in the international literature on the subject. Noteworthy, however, that the present international literature focusing mainly on relations with the external environment to the university, especially with the business community, which was not so present in the national literature. We conclude that the international literature confirms the model proposed by Hoff, San Martin and Sopeña (2011).