Advancing Higher Education Sustainability: An Assessment of the Sustainable Entrepreneurial University Framework in Finnish Institutions

Abstract

Multiple approaches have been devised to capture recent transformations in university governance connected to sustainability and innovation agendas. This study operationalises the Sustainable Entrepreneurial University (SEU) framework to assess sustainability and entrepreneurship orientation in practice at a sample of Finnish research-intensive universities. Drawing on the framework's theoretical foundations, the study evaluates its applicability across the selected universities. Through qualitative content analysis of the strategic plans of six universities, the study examines the alignment of institutional discourse with the Ivory Tower University, Entrepreneurial University, and SEU models. The findings provide a detailed analysis of each university's strategic direction, emphasising their commitment to sustainability and entrepreneurship, with most coded text indicating the alignment with SEU principles. This research offers insights into the framework's applicability and potential for refinement. Future research could explore the framework's implementation and impact in other institutional contexts, and the development of metrics for sustainability to track progress.