Higher Education and Regional Green Transitions: Navigating Tensions, Complexities and Solutions

Abstract

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.