From classroom to innovation ecosystem: The role of university driving changes through transformative learning

This study explores the pivotal role of Transformative Learning in shaping the contributions of universities within Innovation Ecosystems. Grounded in a qualitative case study of the MBA in Innovation Ecosystems with 19 participants, the research investigates how higher education environments can foster deep mental shifts – altering worldviews, reframing professional identities, and enabling critical reflection. These transformative processes empower universities to evolve beyond knowledge providers into dynamic orchestrators of innovation, capable of bridging industry, government, civil society, and academia. The findings highlight how neutrality and participant diversity within the university context enhance reflexive dialogue and co-construction of meaning, positioning students as active agents in the innovation process. The study underscores the strategic importance of embracing entrepreneurial and transformative roles in academia and proposes a practical framework for universities to serve as inclusive, collaborative, and sustainable knowledge hubs within innovation ecosystems.