Sustainable development policies as indicators and pre-conditions for sustainability efforts at universities: Fact or fiction?

Authors: Leal Filho, W., Shiel, C. et al.

Journal: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education

Volume: 19

Issue: 1

Pages: 85-113

ISSN: 1467-6370

DOI: 10.1108/IJSHE-01-2017-0002

Abstract:

Purpose: There is a widely held belief that sustainable development (SD) policies are essential for universities to successfully engage in matters related to sustainability, and are an indicator of the extent to which they are active in this field. This paper aims to examine the evidence which currently exists to support this assumption. It surveys a sample of universities in Brazil, Germany, Greece, Portugal, South Africa and the UK and the USA to ascertain the extent to which universities that are active in the field of sustainable development have formal policies on sustainable development, and whether such policies are a pre-condition for successful sustainability efforts. Design/methodology/approach: The study involved 35 universities in seven countries (five universities respectively). A mixed-methods approach has been used, ranging from document analysis, website analysis, questionnaires and interviewing. Findings: Although only 60 per cent of the sampled universities had a policy that specifically addressed SD, this cannot be regarded as an indicator that the remaining 40 per cent are not engaged with substantial actions that address SD. Indeed, all of the universities in the sample, regardless of the existence of a SD formal policy, demonstrated engagement with environmental sustainability policies or procedures in some form or another. This research has been limited by the availability and ability to procure information from the sampled universities. Despite this, it is one of the largest research efforts of this kind ever performed. Research limitations/implications: This research has been limited by the availability and ability to procure information from the sampled universities. Practical implications: The findings provide some valuable insights into the connections between SD policies on the one hand and the practice of sustainable development in higher education institutions on the other. Social implications: Universities with SD policies can contribute to models of economic growth consistent with sustainable development. Originality/value: The study is the one of the largest research efforts of this kind ever performed.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/29278/

Source: Scopus

Sustainable development policies as indicators and pre-conditions for sustainability efforts at universities Fact or fiction?

Authors: Leal Filho, W., Shiel, C. et al.

Journal: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABILITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Volume: 19

Issue: 1

Pages: 85-113

eISSN: 1758-6739

ISSN: 1467-6370

DOI: 10.1108/IJSHE-01-2017-0002

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/29278/

Source: Web of Science (Lite)

Sustainable Development Policies as Pre-Conditions for Sustainability Efforts at Universities: fact or fiction?

Authors: Leal Filho, W. et al.

Abstract:

There is a widely held belief that sustainable development policies are essential for universities to successfully engage in matters related to sustainability. This paper examines the evidence which may exist to support this, and surveys a sample of universities in Brazil, Germany, Greece, Portugal, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States, ascertaining the extent to which universities that are active in the field of sustainable development have any formal policies on sustainable development, and whether such policies are a pre-condition for successful sustainability efforts.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/29278/

Source: Manual

Sustainable Development Policies as Indicators and Pre-Conditions for Sustainability Efforts at Universities: fact or fiction?

Authors: Lealh Filho, W., Shiel, C. et al.

Journal: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education

Pages: 85-113

Publisher: Emerald

DOI: 10.1108/IJSHE-01-2017-0002

Abstract:

Purpose: There is a widely held belief that Sustainable Development (SD) policies are essential for universities to successfully engage in matters related to sustainability, and are an indicator of the extent to which they are active in this field. This paper examines the evidence which currently exists to support this assumption. It surveys a sample of universities in Brazil, Germany, Greece, Portugal, South Africa, United Kingdom (UK) and United States of America (USA) to ascertain the extent to which universities that are active in the field of sustainable development have formal policies on sustainable development, and whether such policies are a pre-condition for successful sustainability efforts.

Design/methodology/approach: The study involved 35 universities in these seven countries (five universities respectively). A mixed-methods approach has been used, ranging from document analysis, website analysis, questionnaires and interviewing.

Findings: Although only 60% of the sampled universities had a policy that specifically addressed SD, this cannot be regarded as an indicator that the remaining 40% are not engaged with substantial actions that address SD. Indeed, all of the universities in the sample, regardless of the existence of a SD formal policy, demonstrated engagement with environmental sustainability policies or procedures in some form or another. This research has been limited by the availability and ability to procure information from the sampled universities. Despite this, it is one of the largest research efforts of this kind ever performed.

Research limitations/implications: This research has been limited by the availability and ability to procure information from the sampled universities.

Practical implications: Our findings provide some valuable insights into the connections between SD policies on the one hand, and the practice of sustainable development in higher education institutions on the other.

Originality/value: The study is the one of the largest research efforts of this kind ever performed.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/29278/

http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/full/10.1108/IJSHE-01-2017-0002

Source: Manual

Sustainable Development Policies as Indicators and Pre-Conditions for Sustainability Efforts at Universities: fact or fiction?

Authors: Leal Filhoa, W., Shiel, C. et al.

Journal: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education

Volume: 19

Issue: 1

Pages: 85-113

ISSN: 1467-6370

Abstract:

Purpose - There is a widely held belief that Sustainable Development (SD) policies are essential for universities to successfully engage in matters related to sustainability, and are an indicator of the extent to which they are active in this field. This paper examines the evidence which currently exists to support this assumption. It surveys a sample of universities in Brazil, Germany, Greece, Portugal, South Africa, United Kingdom (UK) and United States of America (USA) to ascertain the extent to which universities that are active in the field of sustainable development have formal policies on sustainable development, and whether such policies are a pre-condition for successful sustainability efforts. Design/methodology/approach –The study involved 35 universities in these seven countries (five universities respectively). A mixed-methods approach has been used, ranging from document analysis, website analysis, questionnaires and interviewing. Findings – Although only 60% of the sampled universities had a policy that specifically addressed SD, this cannot be regarded as an indicator that the remaining 40% are not engaged with substantial actions that address SD. Indeed, all of the universities in the sample, regardless of the existence of a SD formal policy, demonstrated engagement with environmental sustainability policies or procedures in some form or another. This research has been limited by the availability and ability to procure information from the sampled universities. Despite this, it is one of the largest research efforts of this kind ever performed. Originality/value – Our findings provide some valuable insights about the connections between SD policies on the one hand, and the practice of SD in higher education institutions on the other.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/29278/

http://www.emeraldinsight.com/loi/ijshe

Source: BURO EPrints