ABSTRACT
For centuries, universities have been centers and hubs of knowledge production and dissemination. In these functions, universities have shaped our societies—directly, through fundamental discoveries such as X-rays by Röntgen, or more indirectly through educating leaders in economy, civil society, and politics. Often located in cities and embedded in urban dynamics, Russo et al. (2007: 199) argue that universities have a special potential to be a “driving force” for urban development, due to knowledge spillovers, student participation in urban culture, and other factors. Yet, universities that endorse a strong sustainability agenda need to foster very different urban and regional development pathways than the urbanization processes that have shaped modern cities over recent decades.
