International universities-firms cooperation as a mechanism for environmental sustainability: a case study of EdgeWise
Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education
ISSN: 2050-7003
Article publication date: 7 September 2022
Issue publication date: 9 June 2023
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to understand in what way international cooperation between universities and/or firms can be seen as a vehicle in the transfer of knowledge and innovation for implementation of environmentally sustainable practices.
Design/methodology/approach
To do so, a qualitative approach was adopted, resorting to the case study method: the EdgeWise project. Data were obtained from interviews, documentation provided by partners and observation, and the content analysis technique was also used.
Findings
The results lead to the conclusion that this type of international cooperation is supported by solid dimensions, such as knowledge transfer and appropriate choice of partners. In addition, the dimension related to organisational culture is not considered a barrier in the cooperation process studied here, but rather as a form of learning among partners.
Practical implications
The empirical evidence suggests that it will add value to the understanding of the various issues surrounding resources (water and energy) that differ from country to country. However, the administrative-bureaucratic dimension is identified as a barrier to this type of cooperation/project, with its analysis being suggested for future studies.
Originality/value
This innovative study shows that the literature and the case study made identified various dimensions; motivations, barriers and drivers, of knowledge transfer, choice of partners and organisational culture. In addition, this study contributes for international universities-firms cooperation in sustainability area.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to the anonymous referees of the journal for their extremely useful suggestions to improve the quality of the paper. The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from National Funds of the FCT – Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology within the project « UIDB/04007/2020».
Citation
Marques, J., Franco, M. and Rodrigues, M. (2023), "International universities-firms cooperation as a mechanism for environmental sustainability: a case study of
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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