IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i14p6517-d1702928.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Framework Supporting the Innovative Capacity of Higher Education Institutions: An Integrative Literature Review

Author

Listed:
  • Lydia Schaap

    (Research Group Driving Educational Change, Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, Padualaan 97, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands)

  • Femke Nijland

    (Faculty of Educational Sciences, Open University of the Netherlands, Valkenburgerweg 177, 6419 AT Heerlen, The Netherlands)

  • Miriam Cents-Boonstra

    (Research Group Innovative and Effective Education, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, Handelskade 75, 7417 DH Deventer, The Netherlands)

  • Kristin Vanlommel

    (Research Group Driving Educational Change, Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, Padualaan 97, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
    Department of Training and Education Sciences, University of Antwerp, Sint-Jacobstraat 2, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium)

Abstract

Higher education institutions (HEIs) are increasingly called upon to both respond to and drive societal change. To better understand how HEIs can enhance their ability to innovate, an integrative literature review was conducted, examining the concept of innovative capacity. Key resources, such as social capital and leadership, that support innovative capacity were identified, and the ways in which these key resources interact to give rise to innovation outcomes were explored. The findings were synthesized in a conceptual framework that illuminates the pathways through which the capacity for innovation can be built and leveraged by HEIs. This framework serves as both a theoretical foundation for future research and a practical guide for HEI leaders and policymakers seeking to foster innovation. By leveraging these insights, HEIs can better navigate the challenges of a rapidly evolving society and reinforce their role as key drivers of knowledge creation and the complex societal transformations necessary for a sustainable future.

Suggested Citation

  • Lydia Schaap & Femke Nijland & Miriam Cents-Boonstra & Kristin Vanlommel, 2025. "A Framework Supporting the Innovative Capacity of Higher Education Institutions: An Integrative Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-33, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:14:p:6517-:d:1702928
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/14/6517/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/14/6517/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bas van den Berg & Kim Poldner & Ellen Sjoer & Arjen Wals, 2022. "Practises, Drivers and Barriers of an Emerging Regenerative Higher Education in The Netherlands—A Podcast-Based Inquiry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-20, July.
    2. Jean-Paul D. Addie & Mariarosalba Angrisani & Stefano De Falco, 2018. "University-led innovation in and for peripheral urban areas: new approaches in Naples, Italy and Newark, NJ, US," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(6), pages 1181-1201, June.
    3. Gilsing, Victor & Nooteboom, Bart & Vanhaverbeke, Wim & Duysters, Geert & van den Oord, Ad, 2008. "Network embeddedness and the exploration of novel technologies: Technological distance, betweenness centrality and density," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(10), pages 1717-1731, December.
    4. Elena Fleacă & Bogdan Fleacă & Sanda Maiduc, 2018. "Aligning Strategy with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Process Scoping Diagram for Entrepreneurial Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-17, March.
    5. Andreas Widmann & Regina H. Mulder, 2018. "Team learning behaviours and innovative work behaviour in work teams," European Journal of Innovation Management, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 21(3), pages 501-520, April.
    6. Judge, William Q. & Elenkov, Detelin, 2005. "Organizational capacity for change and environmental performance: an empirical assessment of Bulgarian firms," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 58(7), pages 893-901, July.
    7. Tom Dedeurwaerdere, 2013. "Transdisciplinary Sustainability Science at Higher Education Institutions: Science Policy Tools for Incremental Institutional Change," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(9), pages 1-19, September.
    8. Compagnucci, Lorenzo & Spigarelli, Francesca, 2020. "The Third Mission of the university: A systematic literature review on potentials and constraints," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    9. Alistair R. Anderson & Sarah L. Jack, 2002. "The articulation of social capital in entrepreneurial networks: a glue or a lubricant?," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(3), pages 193-210, July.
    10. Sarah Giest, 2017. "The challenges of enhancing collaboration in life science clusters: Lessons from Chicago, Copenhagen and Singapore," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 44(2), pages 163-173.
    11. Seung-Kyu Yi & Bogang Jun, 2018. "Has the German reunification strengthened Germany’s national innovation system?: Triple Helix dynamics of Germany’s innovation system," Knowledge Management Research & Practice, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(1), pages 1-12, January.
    12. Walter Leal Filho & João Henrique Paulino Pires Eustachio & Adriana Cristina Ferreira Caldana & Markus Will & Amanda Lange Salvia & Izabela S. Rampasso & Rosley Anholon & Johannes Platje & Marina Kova, 2020. "Sustainability Leadership in Higher Education Institutions: An Overview of Challenges," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-19, May.
    13. Teece, David J, 2018. "Dynamic capabilities as (workable) management systems theory," Journal of Management & Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 24(3), pages 359-368, May.
    14. Meda Andrijauskiene & Daiva Dumciuviene & Jovita Vasauskaite, 2021. "Redeveloping the National Innovative Capacity Framework: European Union Perspective," Economies, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-30, December.
    15. Yuzhuo Cai & Jinyuan Ma & Qiongqiong Chen, 2020. "Higher Education in Innovation Ecosystems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-12, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Qin Ye & Xiaolei Xu, 2021. "Determining factors of cities’ centrality in the interregional innovation networks of China’s biomedical industry," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(4), pages 2801-2819, April.
    2. Anete Veidemane, 2022. "Education for Sustainable Development in Higher Education Rankings: Challenges and Opportunities for Developing Internationally Comparable Indicators," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-20, April.
    3. Maria José Sá & Sandro Serpa, 2020. "The COVID-19 Pandemic as an Opportunity to Foster the Sustainable Development of Teaching in Higher Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-16, October.
    4. Laurent Scaringella, 2022. "Research centres and universities' intellectual capital: a quantitative empirical study of PhD holders' contributions," Post-Print hal-04678949, HAL.
    5. Cristina Checa & Carmen De-Pablos-Heredero & Yenny Guiselli Torres & José Luis Montes-Botella & Cecilio Barba & Antón García, 2020. "Focused Coordination Models towards Sustainability in Higher Education. Case of Quevedo State Technical University (Ecuador)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-16, July.
    6. Xaver Neumeyer & Susana C. Santos & António Caetano & Pamela Kalbfleisch, 2019. "Entrepreneurship ecosystems and women entrepreneurs: a social capital and network approach," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 53(2), pages 475-489, August.
    7. de Jong, Jeroen P.J. & Freel, Mark, 2010. "Absorptive capacity and the reach of collaboration in high technology small firms," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 47-54, February.
    8. Guiyang Zhang, 2021. "Employee co-invention network dynamics and firm exploratory innovation: the moderation of employee co-invention network centralization and knowledge-employee network equilibrium," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(9), pages 7811-7836, September.
    9. Lorenzo Cassi & Anne Plunket, 2014. "Proximity, network formation and inventive performance: in search of the proximity paradox," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 53(2), pages 395-422, September.
    10. Battke, Benedikt & Schmidt, Tobias S. & Stollenwerk, Stephan & Hoffmann, Volker H., 2016. "Internal or external spillovers—Which kind of knowledge is more likely to flow within or across technologies," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 27-41.
    11. Greg Linden & David J Teece, 2018. "Remarks on Pisano: “toward a prescriptive theory of dynamic capabilities”," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 27(6), pages 1175-1179.
    12. Mohammad Daradkeh, 2023. "Exploring the Curvilinear Relationship between Academic-Industry Collaboration Environment and Innovation Performance: A Multilevel Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-20, May.
    13. Xiaoran Zheng & Yuzhuo Cai, 2022. "Transforming Innovation Systems into Innovation Ecosystems: The Role of Public Policy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-26, June.
    14. Geoffrey Rogito Nyamotal & Dionysious Kihika Kiambi & Kirema Nkanata Mburugu, 2024. "Influence of Democratic Leadership Style on the Performance of Agricultural Enterprises in Kenya," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 8(6), pages 2441-2453, June.
    15. Kuckertz, Andreas & Scheu, Maximilian, 2024. "From chalkboard to boardroom: Unveiling the role of entrepreneurship in bolstering academic achievement among professors," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    16. Dolores Gallardo-Vázquez, 2023. "Attributes influencing responsible tourism consumer choices: Sustainable local food and drink, health-related services, and entertainment," Oeconomia Copernicana, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 14(2), pages 645-686, June.
    17. Donald B. Kraybill & Steven M. Nolt & Erik J. Wesner, 2011. "Sources of enterprise success in Amish communities," Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 5(2), pages 112-130, May.
    18. Mário Franco & Lurdes Esteves & Margarida Rodrigues, 2024. "Clusters as a Mechanism of Sharing Knowledge and Innovation: Case Study from a Network Approach," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 25(2), pages 377-400, April.
    19. Shatha Hussein Al Rawashdeh & Shatha Aser Aldala’in & Esra’a Alaeed & Zubeida Aladwan & Teh Sabariah Binti Abd Manan, 2025. "GIS-Driven Approach for Selecting Optimal University Locations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-22, June.
    20. Mammadaliyev, Farid & Gilsing, Victor & Knoben, J., 2024. "How do firms adapt their portfolios of external collaborations to changing internal organizational attributes? The moderating role of firm age," Other publications TiSEM 56c854b7-ed86-4830-843e-c, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:14:p:6517-:d:1702928. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.