In times of deep uncertainty, the 'entrepreneurial university' needs to be able to transform itself, when necessary, to maintain long-term evolutionary fitness. Dynamic Universities explores how strategic, entrepreneurial leadership can help US higher education institutions thrive amid unprecedented challenges. Drawing on the dynamic capabilities framework, David J. Teece and Sohvi Heaton provide a strategic roadmap to help university leaders identify emerging opportunities and threats, take decisive action, and sustain competitiveness by enhancing, safeguarding, and reconfiguring key institutional assets – ultimately driving long-term transformation and success. Through compelling case studies – including Stanford and Berkeley – and interviews with global university leaders, this book offers practical insights into managing complexity, fostering innovation, and building resilient academic ecosystems. It is essential reading for administrators, policymakers, and anyone interested in the future of higher education.

‘In these times of unprecedented turbulence and uncertainty in higher education, Dynamic Universities provides all university leaders a clear framework for navigating a path forward by identifying and using dynamic capabilities. Strategic plans in higher education must provide room to exploit the opportunities that arise from turbulence through dynamic innovation.’

David W. Blackwell - Lynn Pippenger Dean, Muma College of Business, University of South Florida and Former Provost, University of Kentucky

‘This is the right book at the right time for leaders in higher education. Building deductively on the foundation of Teece’s decades of research on dynamic capabilities as drivers of organizational performance, Teece and Heaton deliver a fresh and illuminating approach for how senior leaders can succeed in today’s extraordinarily fluid higher education environment.’

Steven C. Currall - Ph.D., Executive Director and Associate Vice Provost for Academic-Corporate Initiatives, Harvard University and Former President, University of South Florida

‘Dynamic and entrepreneurial are not words often associated with universities or their leaders but, as Teece and Heaton convincingly argue, these are exactly the characteristics they need to thrive in these challenging times. This book combines keen insights with well-chosen examples to illustrate how dynamic, entrepreneurial leaders can help their institutions succeed.’

John L. Hennessy - President of Stanford University, 2000–2016

‘A masterly exposition of how concepts from business strategy really can be applied to educational institutions.’

John Kay - Fellow of St. Johns College, University of Oxford

‘Dynamic Universities is essential reading on how embracing the ethos of innovation and entrepreneurship enables higher education to meet the changing needs of the students and society we serve. As we’ve seen at Berkeley, we must be ready and able to question the status quo as the pace of change accelerates. An astute analysis of powerful trends and a compelling call to action at a time when the relevance and societal contribution of our institutions are being questioned.’

Rich Lyons - Chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley

‘A brilliant roadmap for university leaders navigating unprecedented change. Professors Teece and Heaton show how dynamic capabilities can preserve the mission of higher education while driving innovation and societal progress.’

José Muñoz - PhD, MBA, President and CEO, Hyundai Motor Company

‘The authors have assembled a resilient leadership philosophy that will guide universities as they respond to a future of ever-increasing uncertainties. Drawing upon case studies and interviews, they conceive a brilliant combination of dynamic capacity from the field of economics and strategic, entrepreneurial thinking from the field of innovation to illustrate how the ‘Dynamic University’ can thrive in our tumultuous times. This book has a sacred place on my office desk.’

Albert ‘Al’ P. Pisano - Dean of Jacobs School of Engineering, University of California, San Diego