This book appeals to higher education scholars from various disciplines and practitioners looking for an overview and in-depth insight into cooperative study programs (CSPs). The CSPs combine elements of higher education with elements of professional work and illustrate how a teaching-related third mission achieves a socioeconomic contribution through its underlying stakeholder interactions. In Germany, CSPs are a growing phenomenon and, at the same time, a niche in higher education with approximately 100,000 students. Higher education scholars identified CSPs a challenge to higher education governance despite the simultaneous lack of empirical data. In this vein, this book pursues the question of how stakeholders influence the governance of the third mission in the case of CSPs. The study in this book refers to the prime example of CSPs at a German university of applied sciencesthe Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University. The analysis revealed that four stakeholder groups are salient and influence the governance of the CSPs. These include professors, industry representatives, students, and representatives of government and higher education policy.

About the authorBenjamin Robert Schiller works as project manager for the science division at the Dieter Schwarz Foundation. He graduated with a diploma degree in industrial engineering and management at the Stuttgart Media University, he also holds a degree in journalism from a distance learning program, and with a MBA degree at the Steinbeis University Berlin.

Introduction.- Literature Review and Context of this Thesis.- Conceptual and Theoretical Considerations.- Methodological Considerations.- Results.- Discussion of Results.- Conclusion: Stakeholder Influence on the Governance of the Third Mission.- Appendix.- Literature.