Universities’ role in society has come to the fore in recent years, and it is becoming difficult to ignore the need for increased alignment of academic and business agendas.
The global challenges being faced require effective communication and co-creation to determine holistic and prompt responses. In order for these unpredictable hurdles to best be mitigated, the academic strength of universities and the strategic foresight of industry must be combined to ensure lasting solutions.
Therefore, this special issue of the UIIN magazine is dedicated to such institutions being ready for university-business engagement and collaboration – from the side of the university and the business partner. We examine what it means to be prepared to engage, the concept of readiness, and its related dimensions, as well as the role of the university in driving social change.
