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Implementing Sustainability Co-Creation between Universities and Society: A Typology-Based Understanding

Author

Listed:
  • Gregory Trencher

    (Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-0845, Japan
    Department of International Development, Community, and Environment, Clark University, Worcester, MA 01610, USA)

  • Masafumi Nagao

    (Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability, United Nations University, Tokyo 150-8925, Japan
    Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, Chiba 277-8561, Japan)

  • Chiahsin Chen

    (Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, Chiba 277-8561, Japan
    National Cheng Kung University Museum, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan)

  • Kentaro Ichiki

    (Hakuhodo Inc., Tokyo 107-6322, Japan)

  • Tobai Sadayoshi

    (World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Japan, Tokyo 105-0014, Japan)

  • Mariko Kinai

    (World Vision Japan, Tokyo 164-0012, Japan)

  • Mio Kamitani

    (Oraga Otsuchi Yume Hiroba, Iwate 028-1131, Japan)

  • Shojiro Nakamura

    (Accenture Japan Ltd., Center for Innovation in Fukushima, Fukushima 965-0006, Japan)

  • Aiko Yamauchi

    (World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Japan, Tokyo 105-0014, Japan)

  • Masaru Yarime

    (School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
    Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy, University College London, London W1T-6EY, UK
    Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan)

Abstract

Universities are under mounting pressure to partner with societal stakeholders and organizations to collaboratively create and implement sustainability-advancing knowledge, tools, and societal transformations. Simultaneously, an increasing number of societal organizations are reaching out to partner with universities to achieve organizational objectives and increase the effectiveness of strategies to further societal sustainability. Using a conceptual framework of “sustainability co-creation”, this study empirically examines the historical and ongoing experiences of five organizations in Japan that actively partner with universities to enhance sustainability activities and strategies to transform society. We examine motivations for partnering with universities, innovative models of practice, factors hampering the co-creative potential of the university, and desired changes to overcome these. Our empirical study leads to the proposal of a typology that might assist in categorizing and understanding key attributes of differing types of sustainability co-creation. We build our typology from two perspectives: First, in terms of the primary objective of the co-creation (ranging from knowledge production to the transformation of society), and second, in terms of the approach taken (ranging from either socially or technologically-centered). We then reflect on the organizations’ experiences to offer several strategies that could increase the effectiveness of the university when partnering with stakeholders in sustainability co-creation. We also highlight several factors effecting the university’s capacity to move beyond knowledge production towards implementation measures to transform society with external stakeholders.

Suggested Citation

  • Gregory Trencher & Masafumi Nagao & Chiahsin Chen & Kentaro Ichiki & Tobai Sadayoshi & Mariko Kinai & Mio Kamitani & Shojiro Nakamura & Aiko Yamauchi & Masaru Yarime, 2017. "Implementing Sustainability Co-Creation between Universities and Society: A Typology-Based Understanding," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-28, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:4:p:594-:d:95573
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    References listed on IDEAS

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