This edited volume explores the complex and evolving role of universities in societal, economic, and organizational transformation, focusing on academic capitalism in Nordic higher education. Through a multidisciplinary lens, the chapters examine how higher education institutions navigate pressures related to entrepreneurship, collaboration, leadership, and ethical practices. It provides a comprehensive overview of the practical features of academic capitalism in day-to-day university work. Teachers and researchers share their experiences of working in contemporary universities. Chapters cover various attitudes to academic capitalism: for and against, but also how to live and survive with it constructively. Nordic countries, and especially Finland, are known as the “happiest country in the world,” which provides interesting research themes for this book. Furthermore, the book contains interesting perspectives on AI and digitalization, and metaphors in the Nordic academic environment for researchers, teachers, advanced students, and practitioners interested in Academic capitalism, whether from practical or theoretical perspectives.

Rauno Rusko is University Lecturer of Management at the University of Lapland, Finland. 

Lenita Hietanen is Adjunct Professor in Music education and entrepreneurship education at the University of Lapland, Finland.  

Maria Hakkarainen is University Lecturer in Tourism research at the University of Lapland, Finland. 

Vesa Markuksela is University Lecturer in Marketing at the University of Lapland, Finland. 

Ville Pietiläinen is Adjunct Professor of Social and Healthcare Management at the University of Lapland, Finland.