Since the 1990s, universities around the world have begun to address sustainability issues by engaging their campuses and communities in these efforts. This focus has led to a greater consideration of the values and ethics of sustainability and an improvement in stakeholder engagement processes, resulting in renewed attention to the policies and actions designed and implemented by universities. In this context, education plays a fundamental role, not only by contributing to the training of competent professionals, but also, and above all, by educating citizens for sustainability. Entering this lively debate, the article first describes the importance of the university-territory dynamic, reconstructs the meaning of the Third Mission, and begins to outline that of a hypothetical Fourth Mission. It then focuses on the social and educational responsibilities of universities in the context of the knowledge economy. The article concludes with a critical reading of these concepts, also considering ANVUR’s VQR 2020-2024.
Responsabilità sociale ed educativa delle università. Processi e governance al servizio del territorio
Gabriella Calvano
2024-01-01
Abstract
Since the 1990s, universities around the world have begun to address sustainability issues by engaging their campuses and communities in these efforts. This focus has led to a greater consideration of the values and ethics of sustainability and an improvement in stakeholder engagement processes, resulting in renewed attention to the policies and actions designed and implemented by universities. In this context, education plays a fundamental role, not only by contributing to the training of competent professionals, but also, and above all, by educating citizens for sustainability. Entering this lively debate, the article first describes the importance of the university-territory dynamic, reconstructs the meaning of the Third Mission, and begins to outline that of a hypothetical Fourth Mission. It then focuses on the social and educational responsibilities of universities in the context of the knowledge economy. The article concludes with a critical reading of these concepts, also considering ANVUR’s VQR 2020-2024.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
