This chapter explores how higher education institutions (HEIs) that use active learning methodologies
and promote co-creative and innovative environments can contribute significantly to regional development. The authors carried out a bibliometric analysis, considering the works published in journals
indexed in the Scopus database for this purpose. The study aims to measure the scientific production of
active teaching and learning methodologies, such as co-creation and innovation, and their contribution
to regional development. The main results denounce that there is still a long way to go in exploring and
emphasizing the links between HEIs, active learning, co-creation, innovation, and regional development.
This path needs the involvement of the surrounding society, and private and public organizations, to
be meaningful. HEIs urgently need to promote a shift in thinking about their educational practices. In
today’s world, complex challenges pose a real challenge to the future of higher education, and graduates
who can meet these challenges represent added value to the higher education system.
