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Transnational Research Collaboration and Its Impact

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Education and Approaches".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (26 March 2023) | Viewed by 18164

Special Issue Editors

Center for Higher Education Research, Southern University of Science and Technology (CHER/SUSTech), Shenzhen, China
Interests: liberal arts education in science and engineering universities; societal impact and assessment of transnational research collaboration; the role of universities in transnational and regional innovation systems
Institute of Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Interests: graduate education; educational evaluation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Faculty of Management and Business, Tampere University, 00014 Tampere, Finland
Interests: higher education policy and management; innovation studies; internationlisation of higher education
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleague,

Along with emerging global innovation networks (Howells, 2019; Lin & Plechero, 2019; J. Liu, Chaminade, & Asheim, 2013) or transnational innovation ecosystems (Cai, 2018; Cai, Ferrer, & Lastra, 2019), transnational research cooperation is not only becoming popular but also complex (Janssens, Maddux, & Nguyen, 2019; Lin & Plechero, 2019). Transnational research cooperation is not merely about researchers from different nations collaborating with each other in conducting research and writing research papers; it is also concerned with related policy frameworks, funding structures, motivations for career development, etc. Moreover, transnational research goes beyond the sector of higher education; it also works across sectors such as university and industry (Huang & Chenlu, 2018; Y. Liu, Deng, Wei, Ying, & Tian, 2019; Ma, 2019). In contrast to dramatic changes in transnational research cooperation in terms of both quantity and quality, little research has been done in exploring the nature of the phenomenon.

More scarce still are studies on the societal impact of transnational research cooperation. In the discourse on research collaboration, we take societal impact to include societal benefits, societal quality, societal relevance, knowledge transfer, public values, usefulness, and third-stream activities (Bornmann, 2013). Although the shared understanding of the prominent role of the university in national or regional innovation is reflected in both higher education research and innovation system studies (Cai, 2017; Kang, Zhao, Song, & Zhuang, 2019; Kempton, 2019; Lyu, Wu, Hu, & Huang, 2019; Reichert, 2019), surprisingly little research attention has been paid to the university’s societal engagement in a transnational context. In the literature, there is an absence of attempts to explain the broader socio-economic role of transnational cooperation (Cai et al., 2019), e.g., for sustainable development goals (United Nations, 2015). In particular, theoretical understandings of the underlying underpinning mechanisms of the societal impact of transnational research cooperation have been lacking.   

This Special Issue calls for papers to address the research gaps. We welcome papers that contribute to the discussion from theoretical, methodological, or empirical perspectives and are relevant both to academic communities interested in the theme as well as policy and managerial audiences.  Specifically, we invite research contributions to discuss the following issues, albeit not in a strict (exclusive) sense:

  • Various forms of transitional research collaboration
  • The changing nature of and challenges in transnational research collaboration
  • Higher education, science & technology, and research policies addressing responsible research, innovation, and research collaboration
  • Theoretical understandings of the societal impact of transnational research collaboration
  • Assessment mechanisms/evaluation tools underlying the societal impact of transnational research projects/collaboration
  • New methodologies in the new research agenda

Dr. Jinyuan Ma
Dr. Chuanyi Wang
Prof. Yuzhuo Cai
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

References

Bornmann, L. (2013). What is societal impact of research and how can it be assessed? A literature survey. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 64(2), 217-233.

Cai, Y. (2017). From an analytical framework for understanding the innovation process in higher education to an emerging research field of innovations in higher education. Review of Higher Education, 40(4), 585-616. doi:10.1353/rhe.2017.0023

Cai, Y. (2018). Towards a socially responsible entrepreneurial university: Conceptual and analytical framework building. SPIRAL, 2018, 1-4.

Cai, Y., Ferrer, B. R., & Lastra, J. L. M. (2019). Building University-Industry Co-Innovation Networks in Transnational Innovation Ecosystems: Towards a Transdisciplinary Approach of Integrating Social Sciences and Artificial Intelligence. Sustainability, 11(17), 1-23. doi:10.3390/su11174633

Howells, J. (2019). Global innovation: innovation systems in open and distributed networks. The Handbook of Globalisation, 92.

Huang, Y., & Chenlu, Z. (2018). Research on the Cooperation of Science and Technology Innovation between Chinese Research Universities and Multinational Enterprises in the Context of Globalization. Science and Technology Management Research (in Chinese), 38(21), 138-144.

Janssens, M., Maddux, W. W., & Nguyen, T. (2019). Globalization: Current issues and future research directions. Negotiation and Conflict Management Research, 12(2), 174-185.

Kang, W., Zhao, S., Song, W., & Zhuang, T. (2019). Triple helix in the science and technology innovation centers of China from the perspective of mutual information: a comparative study between Beijing and Shanghai. Scientometrics, 118(3), 921-940.

Kempton, L. (2019). Wishful thinking? Towards a more realistic role for universities in regional innovation policy. European Planning Studies, 1-18.

Lin, J., & Plechero, M. (2019). Global innovation networks for Chinese high-tech small and medium enterprises: the supportive role of highly skilled migrants and returnees. International Journal of Technological Learning, Innovation and Development, 11(2), 140-154.

Liu, J., Chaminade, C., & Asheim, B. (2013). The Geography and Structure of Global Innovation Networks: A Knowledge Base Perspective. European Planning Studies, 21(9), 1456-1473. doi:10.1080/09654313.2012.755842

Liu, Y., Deng, P., Wei, J., Ying, Y., & Tian, M. (2019). International R&D alliances and innovation for emerging market multinationals: Roles of environmental turbulence and knowledge transfer. Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing.

Lyu, L., Wu, W., Hu, H., & Huang, R. (2019). An evolving regional innovation network: collaboration among industry, university, and research institution in China’s first technology hub. The Journal of Technology Transfer, 44(3), 659-680.

Ma, J. (2019). Developing Joint R&D Institutes between Chinese Universities and International Enterprises in China’s Innovation System: A Case at Tsinghua University. Sustainability, 11(24), 1-25.

Reichert, S. (2019). The role of universities in regional innovation ecosystems. Brussels: European University Association Study. https://eua. eu/downloads/publications/eua% 20innovation% 20ecosystem% 20report, 2020, 19-13.

United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. New York: United Nations

Published Papers (6 papers)

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21 pages, 762 KiB  
Article
Organizational Innovation of Chinese Universities of Applied Sciences in Less-Developed Regional Innovation Systems
by Minhui Li, Nian Ruan and Jinyuan Ma
Sustainability 2022, 14(23), 16198; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su142316198 - 05 Dec 2022
Viewed by 1436
Abstract
Universities of applied sciences (UASs) are recognized as a supplement to research universities in regional innovation systems. Although their significance has been proven in the process of knowledge innovation and transfer in many developed European countries, few studies have noticed their essential existence [...] Read more.
Universities of applied sciences (UASs) are recognized as a supplement to research universities in regional innovation systems. Although their significance has been proven in the process of knowledge innovation and transfer in many developed European countries, few studies have noticed their essential existence in less-developed regions. This is also the case in the context of China. This study focused on the organizational innovation used by Chinese UASs to tackle serious challenges in less-developed regions. Three case study universities were selected from Yunnan Province in western China. By analyzing their roles, compatibilities, and profitability, this study revealed that UASs are indispensable platforms for applied talent cultivation, local research, and social services in less-developed regions. Facing multiple incompatibility issues and unbalanced profitability, institutional entrepreneurs, including university leaders, middle-level managers, teachers, and students, jointly take innovative initiatives to participate in the regional innovation system. These initiatives not only stimulated the vitality of life for UASs in less-developed regions, but also shed light on the future development of UASs in different cultural contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transnational Research Collaboration and Its Impact)
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24 pages, 3619 KiB  
Article
Models of Internationalization of Higher Education in Developing Countries—A Perspective of International Research Collaboration in BRICS Countries
by Xiaojie Fan, Hong Liu, Yang Wang, Yawen Wan and Duanhong Zhang
Sustainability 2022, 14(20), 13659; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su142013659 - 21 Oct 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2318
Abstract
This study explored the international research collaboration in BRICS’s leading universities and their performance in the past decade. Based on the literature on the international educational policies in BRICS countries and the world university rankings, we select the top research universities of each [...] Read more.
This study explored the international research collaboration in BRICS’s leading universities and their performance in the past decade. Based on the literature on the international educational policies in BRICS countries and the world university rankings, we select the top research universities of each BRICS country. We use the Scopes database, and the timespan of our research covers 2012–2021 years, which allows us to identify the critical points in international research collaborations in terms of research scale, quantity, impact, collaborative networks, and subject areas. We find that all BRICS countries have increased their international collaboration and production of international collaborative publications at varying degrees of growth. The research quality and impact of international cooperation in scientific publications in China and India have rapidly improved and enhanced. The other three countries are improving their research impact, yet their research quality has been limited or declined worldwide. Meanwhile, geopolitical factors, disciplinary advantages, and scientific and technological development need to influence the paths of international research collaborations in developing countries. As they integrate within global higher education, BRICS countries are beginning to establish their own distinctive academic and scientific development paths by actively participating in the international academic discourse. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transnational Research Collaboration and Its Impact)
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17 pages, 895 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Role of International Research Collaboration in Building China’s World-Class Universities
by Duanhong Zhang, Wenjia Ding, Yang Wang and Siwen Liu
Sustainability 2022, 14(6), 3487; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14063487 - 16 Mar 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2749
Abstract
This study explored the international research collaboration led by China’s world-class universities and its impact during the first construction cycle of the “Double First-Class” initiative (2016–2020). We collected international collaborative publications based on the Scopus database and examined the performance of international research [...] Read more.
This study explored the international research collaboration led by China’s world-class universities and its impact during the first construction cycle of the “Double First-Class” initiative (2016–2020). We collected international collaborative publications based on the Scopus database and examined the performance of international research collaboration in terms of quantity, impact, collaborative networks, and subject areas using scientometric indicators and social network analysis. We found that international collaboration accounts for only a quarter of the total output but is far above the overall level of scientific papers in terms of quality and impact. The United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Hong Kong remain China’s closest partners. Meanwhile, ties with Belt and Road partner countries have become stronger with the introduction of foreign policy. China’s medicine and multidisciplinary research have gained prominence in the context of the global health crisis. Thus, international research collaboration effectively improves research performance, deepens academic networks, and disseminates local issues and solutions to the world, thereby enabling China’s world-class universities to reconcile global engagement with Chinese characteristics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transnational Research Collaboration and Its Impact)
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19 pages, 2034 KiB  
Article
Chinese Universities’ Cross-Border Research Collaboration in the Social Sciences and Its Impact
by Yang Liu, Jinyuan Ma, Huanyu Song, Ziniu Qian and Xiao Lin
Sustainability 2021, 13(18), 10378; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su131810378 - 17 Sep 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2278
Abstract
This paper examined the coauthorship patterns in Chinese researchers’ cross-border research collaboration in the social sciences based on articles and reviews indexed in the Scopus database (2010–2019). We explored the evolution of coauthorship patterns by proportion of collaboration, year, research field, country/region, and [...] Read more.
This paper examined the coauthorship patterns in Chinese researchers’ cross-border research collaboration in the social sciences based on articles and reviews indexed in the Scopus database (2010–2019). We explored the evolution of coauthorship patterns by proportion of collaboration, year, research field, country/region, and research institution; additionally, the quality/impact of the coauthored publications was examined using four levels of paper quality (Q1–4), citations per paper, and FWCI. We found that collaboration between Chinese and international scholars is very common, and more than 40% of all papers published by Chinese scholars from 2010 to 2019 involved cross-border collaboration. The growth in collaboration was very steady over the past 10 years, increasing by an average of 20% per year. United States scholars are the most common research collaboration partners for Chinese scholars in the social sciences, followed by those in Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. The field of psychology seeks the most collaboration, followed by economics and finance, business and management, and social issues. The percentage of Q1 papers increased from 36% in 2010 to 66% in 2019. Thus, in the past 10 years, Chinese scholars’ cross-border collaboration has grown extensively in terms of both quantity and impact. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transnational Research Collaboration and Its Impact)
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23 pages, 23479 KiB  
Article
A Review of Global Collaboration on COVID-19 Research during the Pandemic in 2020
by Kyungkook Kim and Keun Tae Cho
Sustainability 2021, 13(14), 7618; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13147618 - 07 Jul 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3296
Abstract
In response to the COVID-19 crisis, which has become a severe threat to the health and sustainability of human life, scholars have published numerous research results. Although the importance of international research collaboration has been highlighted as a means of overcoming this global [...] Read more.
In response to the COVID-19 crisis, which has become a severe threat to the health and sustainability of human life, scholars have published numerous research results. Although the importance of international research collaboration has been highlighted as a means of overcoming this global crisis, research on this particular problem has been lacking. Therefore, this study focused on the response of academia to COVID-19 by examining the collaboration between international research, and its impact. This study extracted data from Scopus, sampling articles and reviews published in 2020. By analyzing scenarios by country and international research collaboration based on data on authors’ nationalities and the research areas of documents, this study revealed that the United States and China contributed the most. In all countries, most research was conducted on medicine. European and American countries demonstrated significant interest in the social sciences and Asian countries in the life sciences. Furthermore, some countries, including Belgium and Pakistan, extended their research interests through international research collaboration. The results of this study highlight the importance of international research collaboration across various areas by overcoming the regional imbalance in intercountry collaboration and the concentration on a limited scope of subjects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transnational Research Collaboration and Its Impact)
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17 pages, 2143 KiB  
Article
Patterns of the Network of Cross-Border University Research Collaboration in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area
by Jinyuan Ma, Fan Jiang, Liujian Gu, Xiang Zheng, Xiao Lin and Chuanyi Wang
Sustainability 2020, 12(17), 6846; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12176846 - 23 Aug 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4042
Abstract
This study analyzes the patterns of university co-authorship networks in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area. It also examines the quality and subject distribution of co-authored articles within these networks. Social network analysis is used to outline the structure and evolution of the [...] Read more.
This study analyzes the patterns of university co-authorship networks in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area. It also examines the quality and subject distribution of co-authored articles within these networks. Social network analysis is used to outline the structure and evolution of the networks that have produced co-authored articles at universities in the Greater Bay Area from 2014 to 2018, at both regional and institutional levels. Field-weighted citation impact (FWCI) is used to analyze the quality and citation impact of co-authored articles in different subject fields. The findings of the study reveal that university co-authorship networks in the Greater Bay Area are still dispersed, and their disciplinary development is unbalanced. The study also finds that, while the research areas covered by high-quality co-authored articles fit the strategic needs of technological innovation and industrial distribution in the Greater Bay Area, high-quality research collaboration in the humanities and social sciences is insufficient. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transnational Research Collaboration and Its Impact)
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