Which approach to engagement? Unraveling how European universities build relationships with society

This study aims to explore how European universities establish and sustain participatory mechanisms to engage with non-academic actors, responding to the broader call for stronger collaboration between science and society. The authors aim to analyze the approaches adopted by academic institutions to shape engagement processes, addressing the lack of comparative analyses across different academic contexts. Using a multiple case study methodology, the paper examines six generalist research universities across Italy, France, and the United Kingdom to capture the way in which universities potentially operationalize elements of bidirectionality and equity in the science-society dialogue. Understanding how universities perceive, structure, and attribute value to their dialogue with society offers valuable insights into the potential of engagement initiatives to drive transformative change both within university practices and for society at large.