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<p>As societal challenges grow, so does the role of universities in finding social and technological solutions. Technical universities are prominent in educating future innovators and developing desired technological and social change. This paper seeks to identify commonalities and better understand differences to develop strategies for mutual support and exchange of best practices. The methodological approach focuses on three questions concerning 1) the common understanding of transdisciplinary, 2) the diversity of transdisciplinary approaches to sustainable development, and 3) the different institutional structures that enable and promote transdisciplinary approaches to sustainability. The qualitative exploratory research suggests that a higher level of societal engagement in scientific research positively impacts societal transformation towards sustainability. This research is also a first step towards making transdisciplinary research at technical universities more visible and transparent to provide better support and create a mutual learning environment for discussing and continuously developing strategies for organizational change.</p>
</abstract>

As societal challenges grow, so does the role of universities in finding social and technological solutions. Technical universities are prominent in educating future innovators and developing desired technological and social change. This paper seeks to identify commonalities and better understand differences to develop strategies for mutual support and exchange of best practices. The methodological approach focuses on three questions concerning 1) the common understanding of transdisciplinary, 2) the diversity of transdisciplinary approaches to sustainable development, and 3) the different institutional structures that enable and promote transdisciplinary approaches to sustainability. The qualitative exploratory research suggests that a higher level of societal engagement in scientific research positively impacts societal transformation towards sustainability. This research is also a first step towards making transdisciplinary research at technical universities more visible and transparent to provide better support and create a mutual learning environment for discussing and continuously developing strategies for organizational change.

Transdisciplinary Research for Sustainable Development: Diverse and Best-Practice at European Technical Universities

Foundations of Management

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

As societal challenges grow, so does the role of universities in finding social and technological solutions. Technical universities are prominent in educating...

-	University Level	Interdepartmental Level	Departmental Level	Project Level	Course Level
Collaboration	RWTH Campus GmbH	-	-	Autoferry at NTNU Restoration of the Church of San Nicolas in Valencia at UPV	Master's in Architecture and Planning Beyond Sustainability at CHALMERS
Consulting	STADTMANUFAKTUR at TUB	-	META at POLIMI	-	-
Informing	-	-	-	ACCorD at RWTH Innovation Hub at WUT	-

Transdisciplinary Research for Sustainable Development: Diverse and Best-Practice at European Technical Universities

Pubblicato online: 02 apr 2024

Pagine: 41 - 58

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fman-2024-0003

Parole chiave
transdisciplinary, societal impact, levels of engagement, sustainable development

© 2024 Inge Leurs et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

Matrix with examples for positioning transdisciplinary initiatives in ENHANCE Alliance universities (Source: Authors’ own research)

Transdisciplinary Research for Sustainable Development: Diverse and Best-Practice at European Technical Universities

Pubblicato online: 02 apr 2024

Pagine: 41 - 58

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fman-2024-0003

Parole chiavetransdisciplinary, societal impact, levels of engagement, sustainable development

© 2024 Inge Leurs et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

Matrix with examples for positioning transdisciplinary initiatives in ENHANCE Alliance universities (Source: Authors’ own research)

Parole chiave
transdisciplinary, societal impact, levels of engagement, sustainable development