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

Lydia Schaap (), Femke Nijland, Miriam Cents-Boonstra and Kristin Vanlommel
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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

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-33

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.

Keywords: innovative capacity; HEIs; framework; integrative literature review; resources (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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