The Future of the University In the Age of Sustainability: Balancing Transformation and Persistence

Abstract

This essay explores the future of universities amid sustainability imperatives, addressing the bal­ance between transformation and institutional per­sistence. Universities are under pressure to integrate sustainability into their missions while maintaining academic independence. The discussion highlights paradoxes such as societal relevance versus intel­lectual autonomy and the need for co-creation with­out compromising academic freedom. The paper advocates for embedding sustainability within uni­versity operations and fostering truly dynamic and mission-oriented governance. The role of leadership in bridging tradition and innovation is emphasized, underlining the need for universities to act as trans­formative institutions that align academic goals with global priorities.

Keywords

• sustainability
• university governance
• institutional transformation
• academic autonomy
• hans-georg gadamer.