Higher Education Research: Challenges and Practices

This reprint titled "Higher Education Research: Challenges and Practices", explores the development of the relationship between higher education and research in contemporary academic environments. Traditionally, higher education has been considered critical for scientific progress through transmission of knowledge (teaching and learning), generation of new knowledge (research), and application of knowledge for the benefit of society. However, currently, the expectations of various stakeholders in higher education—such as institutions, academics, students, policymakers, and the business sector—are undergoing a significant transformation with the growing valuation of research and innovation, which implies closer collaboration with society. This reprint is a contribution to the debate on how higher education is adapting to these demands in a context of digitalization and sustainability, in a comprehensive vision that addresses various topics and geographies, highlighting the increasing importance of research, social impact and pedagogical innovation in defining the future direction of higher education in the 21st century.