Universities As Urban Actors: Assessing Campuses Impacts

Oldani, Giulia

Universities have increasingly gained attention as public actors in urban contexts, with scholars highlighting their ability to drive positive societal impacts. Universities are now recognized as influential actors that shape both the socio-physical spaces and economic trajectories of cities (Balducci et al., 2010; Magdaniel, 2016). Despite this, there is a lack of structured tools to specifically evaluate the impacts of university campuses on surrounding area.

This research aims to fill this gap by developing a comprehensive framework for evaluating the impacts of university campuses on their urban environments, focusing on the local, city, and regional levels.

The framework is developed based on the goals of both the university and local stakeholders, and it aims to identify the macro-impacts that the new campus will have. It defines both qualitative and quantitative criteria to evaluate its physical, social, economic, environmental, and knowledge diffusion outcomes. This tool can be used in the early stages of campus development to anticipate and mitigate potential negative impacts, while also functioning as a long-term monitoring instrument.

As Antonietti et al. (2022) noted, universities are increasingly expected to play an active role in their areas of influence, evolving into public entrepreneurial agents. Given this expectation, universities must be conscious of their impact. This framework will be tested on the planned expansion of the Politecnico di Milano’s Bovisa-La Goccia campus. Given that Politecnico is the main driver of transformation in this significant area of Milan, and a catalyst for urban change, understanding and mitigating its potential negative impacts is crucial (Ballio, 2006; Cognetti, 2007; Pacchi et al., 2024).

By promoting a holistic approach that integrates academic and urban objectives, this research positions universities as proactive public actors. Ultimately, this research contributes to reimagining universities as progressive urban institutions.