The Center focuses on the analysis of governance of and in higher education, and on how the transformation of governance interlinks with the governance of transformation. The broader conceptual understanding refers to higher education governance in context of knowledge society, knowledge economy and knowledge democracy.
Center activities are:
- Combining basic research with applied research, integrated in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary frameworks of scientific and artistic research conduct;
- Reflecting on the pluralism of governance (for example New Public Management, Network Governance and Epistemic Governance) in connection with innovation and Third Mission (the entrepreneurial university), also the Fourth Mission (higher education as co-creator of society and democracy, and the academic firm);
- Contributing to theory-building work by inquiring on the “Democracy Education Nexus”, and concepts of the “Quadruple and Quintuple Helix” innovation systems (co-created by Carayannis and Campbell, “basic research in the context of application”);
- Engaging in major research activities, by participating in calls at the European (Union) level as well as by applying for national funding agencies;
- Offering practical advice and policy recommendations for governance to institutional actors in diversified settings (national, European and global), for example to facilitate leadership governance, being accompanied by the application of various methods, such as an involvement of peers;
- Providing academic-publication-input in peer-reviewed journals and other publication formats, including the department-level academic “Journal of Research and Innovation in Higher Education”, JRIHE;
- Supporting the Third and Fourth Mission narrative-diffusion about higher education, by leading the “Uni Governance” platform-and-blog, and co-organizing the annual conference of the “University Dialogue Krems”;
- Supervising the book series “Sciences Transformation Politics” and the “Kremser Theses” (Knowledge Research Education MULTIPLIER Society Enhancement Renaissance), both being distributed by the publisher Passagen-Verlag;
- Practicing research-based teaching interconnected with teaching-based research.
Head of Center
Team
Research Projects
INTERNATIONAL WORK BASED LEARNING IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Duration: 28/02/2022–30/04/2024
Principle investigator for the project (University for Continuing Education Krems): David Friedrich James Campbell
Funding: EU
Publications
Westa, S.; Custers, B. (2026). Academic freedom under strain: Navigating the universalistic ideal and particularistic pressures. International Journal of Educational Research, Volume 137: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2026.102952
Pöcher, B.; Campbell, D. F. J.; Carayannis, E. G. (2025). Innovation and entrepreneurship in organizational university “Third Space” arrangements: Third Space and third mission in mode 3 universities. Asia Pacific Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 14 (1): 1-22
Campbell, D. F. J.; Carayannis, E. G. (2025). Self-Different Fractals and Innovation. Academic Firm and the Entrepreneurial University in Epistemic Governance. CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton
Pausits, A.; Geppert, C.; Campbell, D. F. J. (2025). Does a Better Knowledge Transfer Improve Institutional Governance? The Impact of Transfer Activities on Higher Education Governance. In: Leišyte, L.; Marquina, M.; Jones, G. A., University Governance, Management and the Academic Profession. Transformations and Challenges: 173–193, Springer, Cham
Burkert, G. R. (2025). Die "zensierten" Universitäten. Cancel-Culture und Identitätspolitik als "Vorgaben" der Gesellschaft. In: Schausberger, F.; Schönner, H., Cancel-Culture. Moralisierung und Anmaßung der Selbstgerechten: 103-122, Buchschmiede, Wien
Campbell, D. F. J.; Keppel, M.; Hofer, T. (2025). Erklärung der Koalitionsbildung für die österreichische Bundesregierung nach der Nationalratswahl 2024. SWS-Rundschau, 65 (3): 216-239
Pöcher, B.; Campbell, D. F. J.; Weiss, S.; Steinbrener, J. (2025). „Third Space“ und „Third Mission“: Eine innovative Fallstudie der Universität Klagenfurt. Zeitschrift für Hochschulentwicklung, 20 (2): 219-238
Zenk L.; Pausits A.; Brenner B.; Campell D.F.; Behrens D.A. Stöckler E.M.; Oppl St.; Steiner G. (2024). Meta-competences in complex environments: An interdisciplinary perspective. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 53: 101515
Burkert, G.R.; Campbell, D.F.J.; Pausits, A.; Westa, S. (Hrsg.) (2024). Zukunft. Hochschulen. Governance. Kremser Thesen. Passagen Verlag, Wien
Geppert, C.; Pausits, A.; Campbell, D.; Reisky, F.; Lessky, F. (hrsg.) (2024). Die akademische Profession in Österreich. Eine Analyse der APIKS-Austria-Erhebung. Waxmann, Münster
Lectures
Zwischen Erkenntnis und Karriere: Ambivalenzen wissenschaftlicher Arbeit im Spannungsfeld von Normen und Interessen
Symposium „Arbeit an Hochschulen“, 03/11/2025
Who is leading our universities? 20 years of executive-style management in Austria
Eair Forum 2025, 27/08/2025
Synergien between Voluntary Work and Higher Education: A Case Study
Eair Forum 2025, 27/08/2025
Zwischen Beruf, Studium und Ehrenamt. Strategien für eine gelungene Work-Life Balance.
5. Konferenz Netzwerk Hochschulforschung Österreich "Innovate. Adapt. Preserve: Navigating Change in Higher Education”, 09/05/2025
"Third Space" und "Third Mission": Eine innovative Fallstudie der Universität Klagenfurt
5. Konferenz des Netzwerks Hochschulforschung Österreich, 09/05/2025
Epistemic Governance and Quality Cultures: Case Study "Angewandte"
5. Konferenz des Netzwerks Hochschulforschung Österreich, 08/05/2025
Modelle einer zukünftigen Universitätsgovernance?
26. Workshop Hochschulmanagement, 03/04/2025
Die „erfahrene“ Universität. Universitäten im Austausch mit der Gesellschaft
Jahrestagung der Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Wissenschaftliche Weiterbildung für Ältere, 26/02/2025
Testimonial: MARIHE (Master in Research and Innovation in Higher Education)
Kick-Off meeting: EMJM projects selected in 2024, 21/11/2024
Leadership challenges in staff career development
DRC (Danube Rectors’ Conference) Annual Conference 2024, 13/11/2024
