Geographies of the University

This book is open access under a CC BY license. Universities are key actors in the global knowledge economy. They are centers of research, teaching, and expertise with significant economic, social, and cultural impacts at different geographical scales. Leading universities attract creative minds and intellectuals from around the globe, provide graduates and innovations for the economy, and sustain diverse international linkages that make them important sites of cultural encounter and exchange. This volume brings together scholars from a variety of disciplines and countries to consider how an increased awareness of the histories, geographies, and practices of universities can shape current debates about their future. The contributions to this book revolve around five main themes: historical perspectives on the university as a site of knowledge production, cultural encounter, and political interest; institutional perspectives on university governance and the creation of innovative environments; relationships between universities and the city; the impact of universities on national and regional economies and cultures; and the processes of internationalization through student mobility, the creation of education hubs, and global regionalism in higher education.