The CHER 2023 Conference (https://cher2023.org/), organized by CHER Board of Directors, was held at the WU – Vienna University of Economics and Business from August 30th to September 1st 2023. The theme for the CHER 2023 Conference was “Higher Education Institutions as Change Agents in Society: Perspectives on Adaptation and Impact”. The changing role of higher education institutions (HEIs) in society has become a point of reference among policy makers, university leaders and the academic community across the world. Being among the oldest institutions to date, universities have always been subject to changes in their institutional environments. In the 21st century, however, these changes have become more rapid and disruptive. Societies are not only confronted with multifaceted challenges related to sustainability, technology, social disparities and geopolitical tensions, but also a situation of crisis resulting from a global pandemic, war, energy shortages and inflation. The conference had five tracks including education and research. In addition to the tracks, the conference offered opportunities for interaction and exchange through roundtable discussions, editorial workshops, networking spaces and mentoring possibilities for early-career researchers. About 200 educators attended from different countries including European and Asian countries, and presentations and discussion were held regarding education and research. Both theoretical and empirical contributions that provide a perspective on adaptation with respect to four key areas: education, research, third mission and impact, as well as governance, innovation and internationalization were covered.