The University Campus as a Living Lab for Sustainability: A Practitioner’s Guide and Handbook is designed to bridge the gap between academic sustainability science and real-world implementation, this handbook offers university sustainability officers, administrators, researchers, and student leaders actionable guidance on utilizing physical university campuses as interactive testbeds for sustainable innovation.
Grounded in operational practices, hands-on experiences, and transdisciplinary research, the handbook addresses the critical role of higher education institutions in leading climate action and regional sustainability transformations. It guides readers through the essential dimensions of sustainability (economic, ecological, and socio-cultural) and details the methodology of Living Labs—emphasizing user-centered co-creation, co-production, and real-life experimentation.
A central highlight of this handbook is the introduction of the Campus as Living Lab Framework and the Campus as Living Lab Canvas. This visual, one-page planning template helps multi-disciplinary teams define project scopes, identify key stakeholders, map out desired outcomes (spanning education, research, campus operations, and community impact), and establish reflective evaluation mechanisms.
Featuring step-by-step guidance on setting up governance structures, maintaining stakeholder trust, and scaling campus-level solutions to urban environments, this resource serves as an essential manual for institutions seeking to accelerate their transition toward low-carbon, circular, and SDG-aligned campuses.