Abstract
The article is concerned with university outreach and the sharing of practical experiences regarding regional cooperation, as well as theoretical considerations related to facilitating the interface between science and policy as sustainability values. The strategic challenges posed by the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development are discussed with regard to their applicability in higher education and their potential to transform knowledge generation and distribution patterns, as well as in regard to the modification of relevant processes.
The overall theme of sustainability-oriented transformation at the higher educational level was addressed from the point of view of openness towards society, and its potential barriers and benefits. The article explains the different aspects, such as learning processes in transdisciplinary learning environments, the assessment of these processes, associated curricula, and their holistic design and regional applicability.
It summarizes these experiences with regard to the communication patterns that evolved among the partners in regional sustainability cooperation. This communication was found to be a process that established a discourse among all the actors involved.
The analysis of those interactions provided insight into the on-going changes taking place in scientific paradigms and university practices, which helped to create a solid basis to promote and extend this sustainability-oriented transformation process. The prospects for further research to enhance the impact of science and education on society and a review of the issues raised are summarized.