Universities have a pivotal role to play in tackling climate
change, but fragmented collaboration and disciplinary boundaries
are slowing progress, according to a new Debate Paper from the
Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), sponsored by the
University of Salford.
A clear and present danger: Investing in
collaboration platforms to accelerate the transition to a green
economy (HEPI Debate Paper 46) by Professor
Katy Mason highlights the growing importance of collaboration
platforms – interdisciplinary hubs, research centres and
innovation catalysts – that gather together academics,
policymakers, businesses and civil society to co-develop
solutions to climate challenges.
The new paper's key findings include:
-
long-term research centres and institutes are effective at
driving systemic change but need sustained funding and
institutional support;
-
networks and catalysts are agile and impactful but require
coordination to scale innovation across regions and sectors;
and
-
a £650 million five-year Green Innovation Challenge Fund
could meaningfully support a UK-wide network of collaboration
platforms, delivering measurable regional and national
climate mitigation outcomes.
The report recommends that universities:
-
reform incentives for interdisciplinary collaboration,
valuing societal impact alongside traditional academic
outputs;
-
invest in professional knowledge-exchange teams to translate
research into actionable insights for business, government
and communities; and
-
embed climate and sustainability skills into curricula, short
courses, apprenticeships and vocational training to prepare
the workforce for the green economy.
Professor Katy Mason, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Dean of
Salford Business School at the University of Salford and the
author of the new report, said:
‘Universities cannot tackle the climate emergency alone.
‘Our findings show that connecting and coordinating existing
platforms is the most effective way to scale impact and to ensure
that research translates into real-world action.'
, Director of HEPI,
said:
‘Universities have generally adopted stretching net-zero targets
of their own while also holding the key to tackling climate
change across society as a whole. Yet the deteriorating financial
situation is making it hard for them to put their shoulder to the
wheel.
‘More support and more encouragement for more collaborative
action could potentially reap huge benefits.'
