Establishing the regional sustainable developmental role of universities

From the multilevel-perspective (Mlp) and beyond

verfasst von

Verena Radinger-Peer, Gesa Pflitsch, Helga Kanning, Daniel Schiller

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.

Organisationseinheit(en)

Institut für Umweltplanung

Externe Organisation(en)

Universität für Bodenkultur Wien (BOKU)
Philipps-Universität Marburg
Universität Greifswald

Typ

Artikel

Journal

Sustainability (Switzerland)

Band

13

ISSN

2071-1050

Publikationsdatum

22.06.2021

Publikationsstatus

Veröffentlicht

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Geografie, Planung und Entwicklung, Erneuerbare Energien, Nachhaltigkeit und Umwelt, Umweltwissenschaften (sonstige), Energieanlagenbau und Kraftwerkstechnik, Management, Monitoring, Politik und Recht

Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung

SDG 7 – Erschwingliche und saubere Energie

Elektronische Version(en)

https://doi.org/10.3390/su13136987 (Zugang: Offen)