Higher Education and Regional Green Transitions
Navigating Tensions, Complexities and Solutions
Rómulo Pinheiro editor Vito Laterza editor Markku Sotarauta editor Ina Drejer editor Dzamila Bienkowska editor
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd
Published:4th Jun '26
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
Higher education institutions (HEIs) play a pivotal yet underexplored role in Regional Green Transitions (RGTs) and sustainable development. This volume addresses this knowledge gap by examining how universities in the Nordic region engage with RGTs, offering theoretical and methodological insights from diverse disciplines such as economic geography, political economy, organisational theory and education. The Nordic region, often regarded as a benchmark for best practices in education, research, innovation and regional development, serves as the backdrop for this exploration.
Through a rich collection of case studies, the book reveals that RGTs are neither linear nor uniform. Universities navigate these transitions at varying speeds and with different strategies. Some act as agenda-setters, leveraging local coalitions and innovation ecosystems, while others adopt a more cautious approach, observing leading regions and universities before committing to action. Structural pressures, such as national funding systems, global supply chains and sectoral dependencies, further shape their responses.
Offering important conceptual and practical insights for a wide variety of audiences, from social scientists and advance students to university managers, and policymakers, this volume underscores the critical role of HEIs in advancing RGTs (and change processes more generally) amidst evolving political, economic and social landscapes.
“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.
ISBN: 9781041116561
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 560g
202 pages