UNIRE - Universities as institutional entrepreneurs in regional sustainability transitions
Abstract
Wider research context / theoretical framework The research proposal constitutes a sound follow-up project to the project “HE-RO Higher Education Institutions – Region Collaboration” funded by the FWF Hertha-Firnberg grant. Sustainability transitions are highly complex, long-term transformation processes which are place-specific and involve a variety of actors. Universities are expected to be particularly relevant actors in these change processes. At the same time scientific knowledge is still scant on how universities’ role in place-specific regional sustainability transitions (RST) can be established. Research questions The key research question is: How can institutional entrepreneurs nurture the developmental role of universities in place-specific regional sustainability transitions via organizational and institutional change? This research question entails an investigation of the following sub-questions: a) Who are the institutional entrepreneurs (IE) at the university and what are their characteristics? b) How do IE enact organisational and institutional change? c) How do these organisational and institutional changes in teaching, research and outreach impact on RST? d) How do place-specific characteristics support or hinder IE and therewith influence the establishment of the developmental role for universities? Methodological approach The research questions are illuminated on two well-selected cross-country case studies. Developments in the last 25 years are studied by applying the methodological approach of the transition topology. After an initial explorative phase of data gathering, an extensive field research phase enlightens the processes of organisational and institutional change on the micro-level and subsequent impact on RST. A scenario process indicates potential developments of the universities’ future role in RST and informs goal formation and strategy development.
keywords sustainablity transformation region developmental role agency institutional change
Publikationen
Project staff
Verena Radinger-Peer
Ass.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Verena Radinger-Peer
verena.radinger-peer@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-85314
Project Leader
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026
Ines Hinterleitner
Dipl.-Ing. Ines Hinterleitner
ines.hinterleitner@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-85313, 99108
Project Staff
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026