Spatial challenges of hybrid work: an exploration of Dutch university campuses

Purpose

The shift to hybrid work, broadly defined as the transition between traditional and non-traditional work modes enabled by digital technologies, has profoundly impacted university campuses, which function both as educational institutions and major employment centres. Despite their significance, adapting hybrid work models within universities remains under-explored in academic research. This study aims to investigate how university real estate support teams perceive challenges stemming from the adoption of hybrid work.

Design/methodology/approach

Through thematic content analysis, a narrative review of 27 studies identified three dimensions of challenges: spatial challenges in campus planning from a real estate perspective, psychosocial challenges for employees and organisational challenges shaping spatial strategies. In total, 12 higher-level spatial challenges were identified and discussed in a Delphi workshop involving representatives from 12 of the 14 Dutch universities. Group discussions revealed three additional challenges not identified in the literature review.

Findings

Through three rounds of prioritisation, the five most critical challenges emerged: preventing resistance to changes, balancing employee autonomy and control, supporting individual and group needs, accommodating diverse work types and individual preferences and managing underutilised space without overcrowding.
Practical implications

Co-creating university spaces between real estate teams and campus employees, coupled with extended change management periods, seems crucial for stakeholder engagement and successful transitions. These findings highlight an urgent need for targeted research and context-specific strategies to navigate hybrid work within university frameworks.

Originality/value

This paper’s originality lies in addressing the often-overlooked influence of hybrid work on university staff within campus spatial planning. It identifies the most critical challenges in spatial planning in implementing hybrid work in university campus settings.