Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 6987 |
| Journal | Sustainability (Switzerland) |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue number | 13 |
| Publication status | Published - 22 Jun 2021 |
Abstract
This article establishes the multilevel perspective (MLP) as one of the main research approaches in transition research to study complex systemic change processes in socio-technical systems at different structural levels. The application of the MLP to the higher education system, especially to conceptualize the transition of universities towards a sustainable (regional) developmental role, is still in its infancy. Through using a descriptive narrative analysis of seminal articles, the results of the four-years cooperation within an expert working group, and own empirical findings, the present paper investigates the suitability of the MLP to study the transition of universities and university systems towards a sustainable developmental role in the regional context. Based on these investiga-tions, three further perspectives (which must be considered for establishing a more comprehensive understanding of the universities’ sustainable developmental role) are identified and conceptualized: (a) The target dimension of sustainable regional development, (b) the role of agency, and (c) the introduction of space and place to multiscalar regional transitions. Based on these perspectives, a future research agenda beyond the MLP is developed.
Keywords
- Agency, Higher education, Multilevel perspective, Place and space, Regional sustainable development, Sustainable developmental role, Universities
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Sciences(all)
- Geography, Planning and Development
- Energy(all)
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
- Environmental Science(all)
- Environmental Science (miscellaneous)
- Energy(all)
- Energy Engineering and Power Technology
- Environmental Science(all)
- Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
Sustainable Development Goals
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In: Sustainability (Switzerland), Vol. 13, No. 13, 6987, 22.06.2021.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Establishing the regional sustainable developmental role of universities
T2 - From the multilevel-perspective (Mlp) and beyond
AU - Radinger-Peer, Verena
AU - Pflitsch, Gesa
AU - Kanning, Helga
AU - Schiller, Daniel
N1 - Funding Information: Funding: This research was partially funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF, grant number T761-G21.
PY - 2021/6/22
Y1 - 2021/6/22
N2 - This article establishes the multilevel perspective (MLP) as one of the main research approaches in transition research to study complex systemic change processes in socio-technical systems at different structural levels. The application of the MLP to the higher education system, especially to conceptualize the transition of universities towards a sustainable (regional) developmental role, is still in its infancy. Through using a descriptive narrative analysis of seminal articles, the results of the four-years cooperation within an expert working group, and own empirical findings, the present paper investigates the suitability of the MLP to study the transition of universities and university systems towards a sustainable developmental role in the regional context. Based on these investiga-tions, three further perspectives (which must be considered for establishing a more comprehensive understanding of the universities’ sustainable developmental role) are identified and conceptualized: (a) The target dimension of sustainable regional development, (b) the role of agency, and (c) the introduction of space and place to multiscalar regional transitions. Based on these perspectives, a future research agenda beyond the MLP is developed.
AB - This article establishes the multilevel perspective (MLP) as one of the main research approaches in transition research to study complex systemic change processes in socio-technical systems at different structural levels. The application of the MLP to the higher education system, especially to conceptualize the transition of universities towards a sustainable (regional) developmental role, is still in its infancy. Through using a descriptive narrative analysis of seminal articles, the results of the four-years cooperation within an expert working group, and own empirical findings, the present paper investigates the suitability of the MLP to study the transition of universities and university systems towards a sustainable developmental role in the regional context. Based on these investiga-tions, three further perspectives (which must be considered for establishing a more comprehensive understanding of the universities’ sustainable developmental role) are identified and conceptualized: (a) The target dimension of sustainable regional development, (b) the role of agency, and (c) the introduction of space and place to multiscalar regional transitions. Based on these perspectives, a future research agenda beyond the MLP is developed.
KW - Agency
KW - Higher education
KW - Multilevel perspective
KW - Place and space
KW - Regional sustainable development
KW - Sustainable developmental role
KW - Universities
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85109085732&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/su13136987
DO - 10.3390/su13136987
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85109085732
VL - 13
JO - Sustainability (Switzerland)
JF - Sustainability (Switzerland)
SN - 2071-1050
IS - 13
M1 - 6987
ER -