Abstract
With an outset in ‘sustainability' defined as a continuous process requiring balance between (the emergence of) problems and our ability and capability to solve them using four distinct capitals available, i.e. natural, production, human and intellectual, and social capital, a model of universities as factories is used. The model suggests that the most notable products of a university being graduates, and knowledge in the form of books, journal articles etc., i.e. human and intellectual capital. As a consequence, these are also the most important impacts from a university.
Using the case of Aalborg University, Denmark, the linkages (actual, potential and missing) between academic work in research and education and sustainability initiatives are explored. The focus is both on the university's core activities as a provider of research and education and on the university's activities as an organisation, i.e. its own operation and its accounting for this. It is suggested that systematic engagement activities could benefit both the university's ability to manage internal university processes (by learning from its peers) and its ability to produce the right graduates and knowledge. As a consequence, the main societal benefit would be the ability to better cope with emerging problems endangering the sustainable development of our societies.
It is concluded that Aalborg University with its long tradition for project-based and problem-oriented learning in fact has every opportunity to be able to lead by example and become the link to sustainability.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Journal of Cleaner Production |
| Volume | 17 |
| Issue number | 12 |
| Pages (from-to) | 1067–1074 |
| ISSN | 0959-6526 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2009 |
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Keywords
- Sustainable development
- Regional initiatives
- Third mission
- Engagement
- The Aalborg model
Cite this
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University engagement and regional sustainability initiatives : some Danish experiences. / Lehmann, Martin; Christensen, Per; Thrane, Mikkel; Jørgensen, Tine Herreborg.
In: Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 17, No. 12, 2009, p. 1067–1074.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - University engagement and regional sustainability initiatives
T2 - some Danish experiences
AU - Lehmann, Martin
AU - Christensen, Per
AU - Thrane, Mikkel
AU - Jørgensen, Tine Herreborg
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - With an outset in ‘sustainability' defined as a continuous process requiring balance between (the emergence of) problems and our ability and capability to solve them using four distinct capitals available, i.e. natural, production, human and intellectual, and social capital, a model of universities as factories is used. The model suggests that the most notable products of a university being graduates, and knowledge in the form of books, journal articles etc., i.e. human and intellectual capital. As a consequence, these are also the most important impacts from a university.Using the case of Aalborg University, Denmark, the linkages (actual, potential and missing) between academic work in research and education and sustainability initiatives are explored. The focus is both on the university's core activities as a provider of research and education and on the university's activities as an organisation, i.e. its own operation and its accounting for this. It is suggested that systematic engagement activities could benefit both the university's ability to manage internal university processes (by learning from its peers) and its ability to produce the right graduates and knowledge. As a consequence, the main societal benefit would be the ability to better cope with emerging problems endangering the sustainable development of our societies. It is concluded that Aalborg University with its long tradition for project-based and problem-oriented learning in fact has every opportunity to be able to lead by example and become the link to sustainability.
AB - With an outset in ‘sustainability' defined as a continuous process requiring balance between (the emergence of) problems and our ability and capability to solve them using four distinct capitals available, i.e. natural, production, human and intellectual, and social capital, a model of universities as factories is used. The model suggests that the most notable products of a university being graduates, and knowledge in the form of books, journal articles etc., i.e. human and intellectual capital. As a consequence, these are also the most important impacts from a university.Using the case of Aalborg University, Denmark, the linkages (actual, potential and missing) between academic work in research and education and sustainability initiatives are explored. The focus is both on the university's core activities as a provider of research and education and on the university's activities as an organisation, i.e. its own operation and its accounting for this. It is suggested that systematic engagement activities could benefit both the university's ability to manage internal university processes (by learning from its peers) and its ability to produce the right graduates and knowledge. As a consequence, the main societal benefit would be the ability to better cope with emerging problems endangering the sustainable development of our societies. It is concluded that Aalborg University with its long tradition for project-based and problem-oriented learning in fact has every opportunity to be able to lead by example and become the link to sustainability.
KW - Sustainable development
KW - Regional initiatives
KW - Third mission
KW - Engagement
KW - The Aalborg model
U2 - 10.1016/j.jclepro.2009.03.013
DO - 10.1016/j.jclepro.2009.03.013
M3 - Journal article
VL - 17
SP - 1067
EP - 1074
JO - Journal of Cleaner Production
JF - Journal of Cleaner Production
SN - 0959-6526
IS - 12
ER -