Universities’ Emerging Missions to Foster Sustainability of Rural Areas: Multiple Case Studies From The Marche Region

This paper explores a new emerging function for Universities: that of co-creation for sustainability (Trencher et al., 2013, 2014a, 2014b). Contribution to sustainability involves an engagement in place-based, multi-stakeholder partnerships able to solve real-world issues. This theory is applied to multiple case studies which involve the University of Macerata, located in a rural area in the Marche region (Italy). Case study methodology is applied in order to understand if conditions expressed by the theory are met or need extension (Yin, 2009). Findings support the new emerging framework and describe the different roles assumed by the University in each of the cases.