In recent years, new expectations have been placed on universities, demanding academic contributions towards solving large-scale, interdisciplinary challenges. This is in conflict with existing insights from university governance research, which emphasises that scientific communities focus on reproducing disciplinary practices that are unsuitable…

Universities have always played a crucial role in shaping the future of the world. They are centers of knowledge, research, and innovation, producing graduates who go on to lead in their fields and make a positive impact on society. But today, the need for universities to "be the change" has never been more urgent. The world is facing a…

Social entrepreneurship (SE) had been introduced in the university as one of the efforts to nurture future social entrepreneurs. SE courses established at the university level with a combination of cooperation from the local community and industry give a more effective impact on the local community. The knowledge and skills taught from…

Purpose: This study aims to describe the process leading the climate emergency declaration (CED) at the University of Salamanca. In contrast to similar initiatives, this was achieved with the participation of students on the social movement Fridays For Future Salamanca. Design/methodology/approach: The context of the CED is described. Statements…

Purpose: Sustainable development is an issue of high relevance for all countries and universities play a fundamental role in promoting the participation of society members in achieving this objective. This study aims to conduct an open laboratory of social innovation (OPENLAB_SI) inside a university with society stakeholders, as a research and…

The case study profiles the Aiku Centre at Ca' Foscari University in Venice, Italy, suggesting its role as a contemporary higher education institution committed to fulfilling its 'third mission' and addressing broader societal challenges. The Aiku Centre integrates artistic interventions with academic research and organizational practices,…

Purpose: This paper aims to examine the development and piloting of a novel European framework for community engagement (CE) in higher education, which has been purposefully designed to progress the CE agenda in a European context. Design/methodology/approach: The proposed framework was co-created through the European Union (EU)-funded project…

This paper explores perceptions of responsibility for including attention to gender and inequality in higher education curricula and pedagogic approaches internationally, through insights from Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) funded interdisciplinary research across India, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Nigeria and the United Kingdom. Perspectives…

Many countries offer government scholarships for international higher education and expect the recipients to contribute to national development. While there are many benefits from these scholarship programmes, they have been criticized as expensive. We examine the perceived contribution of Kazakhstan's two government scholarship alumni to the…

Since its establishment in 1974, Aalborg University has aimed to deliver cutting-edge research and innovative practices in engineering education. However, increasing complexity related to rapid developments in digitalization and emerging societal challenges offer new opportunities, requirements, and expectations across disciplines for educational…

The need for strong universities has never been greater in addressing societal challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, resource scarcity, ageing populations, migration and managing artificial intelligence are among the many examples of areas where universities have a major impact. The need for bold, cohesive, collective action across…

"New Directions of STEM Research and Learning in the World Ranking Movement: A Comparative Perspective" illustrates new directions of STEM higher education from the perspective of twenty-first century types of learning outcomes and focuses on need for developing an interdisciplinary approach to STEM higher education reform. It provides…

Purpose: Sustainability has become a global concern to deal with complex and unprecedent survival, social, political and peace issues. Higher education institutions play a key role in this transformation. This paper aims to conduct a comparative analysis by continents of innovation and sustainability barriers in universities. The document also…

THE AUTHOR EXAMINES THE INFLUENCE OF TEACHING AND RESEARCH, PRIMARILY THE WORK OF THE UNIVERSITY, ON SOCIAL CHANGE. HE STATES THAT TEACHING AND RESEARCH ARE THE FOREMOST GENERATORS OF SOCIAL CHANGE, THUS THE SUCCESS WITH WHICH WE COPE WITH PRESENT AND FUTURE PROBLEMS DEPENDS ON THE UNIVERSITY. THE UNIVERSITY IS IN A UNIQUE POSITION OF RELATIVE…

Personal view of struggles of Blacks for an identity on white campuses. Argues for need of Black teachers for Black studies, more relevant class structure, more flexibility on part of teachers, more attitudinal changes on and off campus. Presented at American College Personnel Association, St. Louis, 1970. (CJ)