Remodeling the Role of Universities in the Context of Sustainable Development

Under the impact of globalization, the internationalization of business and the economic crisis, we are witnessing a change and reshape of the role played by economic agents, whether they are private companies, large transnational companies, public institutions, portfolio investors or universities in the world economy. Universities must be responsible organizations because they act as draftsmen which shape the thinking of futures specialists and decision makers. A new type of higher education institution showed up: entrepreneurial university. The entrepreneurial universities seems to became economic actors and even economic development leaders, in a first phase in the region they belong and then in the national economy and even the world. In this way, it provides the transformation of knowledge in equity capital for academics. Given the increasing complexity of the functions undertaken by universities and their numerous stakeholders, they can play an important role in promoting sustainable development.