Higher Education and Regional Green Transitions

Rómulo Pinheiro is Professor of Public Policy and Administration, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Agder, Norway.Ina Drejer is Professor of Innovation Studies at Aalborg University Business School, Denmark.Dzamila Bienkowska is Senior Associate Professor in Industrial Organization at Linköping University, Sweden.Vito Laterza is Associate Professor in the Department of the Global Development and Planning, University of Agder, Norway.Markku Sotarauta is Professor of Regional Development Studies in the Faculty of Management and Business at Tampere University, Finland.

“Universities are vitally important institutions in the 21st century, not just because of specific things they do, such as teaching students or developing technologies, but because they bring together so many skills, areas of knowledge and potential for action in a holistic way to address the main challenges facing society. This book presents an essential guide to how the Nordic universities are engaging with regional green transitions, stimulating learning across national and regional contexts, and keeping us all focused on a critical task to ensure the survival of our way of life.” — David Charles, Professor of Enterprise and Innovation and was founding director of the Northumbria Centre for Innovation, Regional Transformation and Entrepreneurship (iNCITE), Newcastle Business School, Northumbria University, UK.“In a time of geopolitical turmoil, universities are needed more than ever to drive change towards a more sustainable future. The book provides an essential resource for understanding the role of universities in regional green transitions.” — Teis Hansen, Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Department of Food and Resource Economics, University of Copenhagen.“While it is well-known that HEIs are a central actor in shaping regional innovation and development, their role in carving out regional pathways towards green transition is less clear. In today’s world marked by accelerating environmental crises, social inequality and political polarisation leveraging universities’ agency in regional green transitions is of ever more importance. Convening case studies from across the Nordic countries, this book adds timely insights and raises pertinent new questions on this underdeveloped research and policy theme.” — Lars Coenen, Professor at HVL Business School, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences.

• PART I Setting the Stage 1 Universities and Regional Green Transitions in the Nordics RÓMULO PINHEIRO, VITO LATERZA, DZAMILA BIENKOWSKA, INA DREJER AND MARKKU SOTARAUTA 2 Green and Regional Transitions and Nordic Higher Education: Conceptual Foundations INA DREJER, DZAMILA BIENKOWSKA, RÓMULO PINHEIRO,VITO LATERZA AND MARKKU SOTARAUTA PART II Balancing Stakeholder Expectations and Institutional Engagement 3 Steering Regional Green Transitions: Universities Roles in a Broader Societal Context JOUNI KEKÄLE AND RÓMULO PINHEIRO 4 Repositioning Regional University College Amidst the Green Transition: The Case of Pärnu County, Estonia ANTTI ROOSE, TRIIN TILLART AND YUZHUO CAI 5 The Role of Social Sciences in Regional Green Transitions: A Critical-Reflexive Perspective METTE VINTHER LARSEN, INA DREJER AND MARTIN LEHMANN PART III Leadership, Strategic Transformation and Impact 6 A Place Leadership Role for Universities? MARKKU SOTARAUTA 7 Assessing Environmental Impact of Universities: Challenges and Implications for Regional Green Transitions FRIDA LAYTI PART IV Educating for Green Transitions While Preserving Academic Integrity 8 Empowering Sustainability Through Active Pedagogical Methods and Regional Engagement MARTHE ELDEN WILHELMSEN 9 Entrepreneurship Programmes for Rural New Ventures: Outreach and Impact Through Entrepreneurship Training DZAMILA BIENKOWSKA, WISDOM KANDA, MAGNUS KLOFSTEN, CHARLOTTE NORRMAN AND OLEKSIY GUZHVA 10 How Can Students’ View on Climate Neutrality Contribute to a Sustainable Future? The Case of a Regionally Intensive Higher Education Institution HENNA JUUSOLA AND MONA ROMAN PART V Concluding Arguments 11 Universities and Regional Green Transitions: Complexity, Contestation and One Way Forward VITO LATERZA, MARKKU SOTARAUTA, DZAMILA BIENKOWSKA, INA DREJER AND ROMULO PINHEIRO