Strategies to promote sustainability in higher education institutions

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 1018-1038 ◽  
Author(s):  
Issa Ibrahim Berchin ◽  
Vanessa dos Santos Grando ◽  
Gabriela Almeida Marcon ◽  
Louise Corseuil ◽  
José Baltazar Salgueirinho Osório de Andrade Guerra
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Public Institution ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Federal Institute ◽  
Sustainability In Higher Education ◽  
Education Science ◽  
Education In Brazil

Purpose This paper aims to analyze strategies that promote sustainability in higher education institutions (HEIs), focusing on the case study of a federal institute of higher education in Brazil. Design/methodology/approach The research was based on a scientific literature review on sustainability in HEIs, to identify the recurrent actions for sustainability in these institutions; and a case study of a federal institute of higher education in Brazil, to illustrate how these actions are being implemented by HEIs. Findings Concerns about sustainability, prompted by the Brazilian federal legislature, led federal HEI to change its internal processes, infrastructure and organizational culture toward sustainability. Practical implications The findings presented in this study, more specifically the sustainability plan of the Federal Institute for Education, Science and Technology of Santa Catarina, aligned with the recommendations proposed, can be used and replicated in other HEIs. Originality/value Scientific literature about organizational changes led by sustainability concerns, in HEIs specifically, still needs more attention in the academia. By addressing the case of a Brazilian public institution of higher education, this paper contributes to the literature on sustainability in higher education by reporting the process of implementation of a sustainability plan.

Proposal for sustainability action archetypes for higher education institutions

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Elíseo Fernandes Sanches ◽  
Matheus Leite Campos ◽  
Luiz Eduardo Gaio ◽  
Marcio Marcelo Belli
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustainable Business Models ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Higher education institutions (HEIs) should assume their role as leaders in the search for a sustainable future. Consequently, such institutions need to incorporate sustainability into their activities. However, this needs to be done holistically and not with isolated and independent actions. Therefore, this study aims to develop a structure of sustainability action archetypes to help HEIs holistically incorporate sustainability in their strategies. Design/methodology/approach A systematic review of the literature was conducted focusing on the subject of sustainability in HEIs. Findings A structure of sustainability action archetypes for HEIs was proposed. Further, based on scientific literature, examples of actions were presented within each archetype. Practical implications This study provides HEI administrators and other organizations with a practical structure to enable the systemic incorporation of sustainability objectives and actions into institutional activities. Originality/value This study adapts the tool “sustainable business model archetypes” for a new purpose. This tool was initially developed to classify innovations of sustainable business models.

Coaching and mentoring in higher education institutions: a case study in Oman

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 307-322
Author(s):  
Ahmed Nawaz Hakro ◽  
Priya Mathew
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Organizational Development ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Open Communication ◽  
Thick Description ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Approach

PurposeUniversities and higher education institutions (HEIs) are increasingly recognizing the value of coaching for professional and organizational development. This study is designed to investigate whether Cognitive Coaching, implemented as a programme in an HEI in Oman, made any difference to the behaviour and attitudes of employees holding leadership positions in academic, administrative and professional services departments. It also explored the factors that hindered or supported the coaching programme and offers recommendations to strengthen coaching initiatives in similar contexts.Design/methodology/approachSemi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect feedback from the 15 participants of the programme. A case study approach was adopted in this study for an in-depth examination of the effectiveness of coaching interventions.FindingsThe findings suggest that coaching can be an effective approach, facilitating personal and professional development and also contributing to the achievement of organizational goals.Research limitations/implicationsAs a case study of a coaching programme in a single institution, the findings of the study are not generalizable to other contexts, though a “thick description” of the context in which the study took place will enable institutions in similar contexts to draw lessons from the experience.Practical implicationsThis study discusses the benefits of a coaching programme for an HEI in the Middle East. Suggestions to strengthen coaching include board level endorsement and sensitivity to cultural nuances in coaching relationships.Social implicationsOne of the effects of a coaching programme is the collegial atmosphere that it can foster. This can have wider impacts on the community as there is more open communication and trust engendered amongst employers and employees belonging to different cultural backgrounds.Originality/valueThis study is one of the first to report the findings of a systematically organized coaching programme in an HEI in the Middle East.

scholarly journals Expansion of photovoltaic systems in multicampi higher education institutions: evaluation and guidelines

2021 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 697-709
Author(s):  
Osvaldo Augusto Vasconcelos de Oliveira Lopes Da Silva ◽  
José Machado Moita Neto ◽  
Marcos Antônio Tavares Lira ◽  
Fabrício Higo Monturil de Morais
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Pv System ◽  
Pv Systems ◽  
Performance Indexes ◽  
Federal Institute ◽  
General Goal ◽  
Solar Resource ◽  
Education Science

Considering the multicampi organizational structure of higher education institutions (HEIs), the expansion of photovoltaic (PV) systems previously installed in the facilities, the great potential for PV generation in Brazil, and the 2030 Agenda, the general goal of this research study is to evaluate and promote the expansion of the aforementioned PV systems. For this purpose, the PV system installed at the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Piauí comprising a future expansion is characterized by a thorough literature and documentary research. The solar resource available at the campuses of the institution was estimated using the second version of the Brazilian Atlas of Solar Energy. The technical–economic viability of the system expansion is assessed through the average parameters and minimum performance indexes required by the institution. Thus, it is possible to prove the effectiveness of the methodology to identify investment priorities and guide the construction and expansion of other PV systems, confirming that this process is technically and economically feasible as associated with strategic adherence, also bringing several environmental benefits.

scholarly journals Sustainability in Higher Education Institutions (HEI): Merging the Study Systematic Review, Analysis Content and Bibliometrics

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Érika Pena Bedin ◽  
Luiz Carlos de Faria
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Journal Articles ◽  
Review Analysis ◽  
Strong Focus ◽  
Content Analyses ◽  
Sustainability In Higher Education ◽  
Combination Of Methods

This study aims to explore how the topic of sustainability in Higher Education Institutions (HEI) has been addressed in the scientific literature. It presents a systematic literature review of peer-reviewed journal articles published between 1975 and 2019. After that, bibliometric and content analyses were performed in order to identify the behavior and evolution of the literature and identify the frequency with which they appear in the text, making it possible to raise replicable and valid inferences to the data. The results of this study indicate that the theme is emerging since the year 2010 and with a strong focus on qualitative studies, focused on critical theory. The results indicate that although studies involve the tripod environment, economy, and society, there is still a gap in studies that deal with specific issues to solve practical problems and that analyze the impacts from a more holistic perspective. The combination of methods made it possible to identify and interpret the articles in the selected sample, but based on results reported by other authors, with little room for quality control and integrity.

Countering extremism through service learning: narratives learned from journalism students

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 686-697
Author(s):  
Maria Robert Bou Zeid
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Social Implications ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Higher Educational ◽  
Journalism Students

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the case of the Aspiration, Communication and Transformation campaign conducted by journalism students to counter extremism as a form of experiential learning in Lebanese higher educational context. It documents the views and experiences of students in a service learning (SL) project for redressing a timely social issue. Design/methodology/approach This study employed a descriptive case study methodology involving a portraiture naturalistic approach for data gathering. It conducted semi-structured interviews with three participating students to learn from their experiences in countering extremism. This was complemented by two interviews with the instructor in charge of the project and an external stakeholder. Findings Results emphasized the combination of applying the broadcast technical skills of the course to countering extremism in a volatile political context. Research limitations/implications The findings are only a mild reflection of countering extremism through SL since it focused on a single case study involving a limited number of participants. However, the study offered common sense conclusions having broader applicability. Practical implications This topic is of particular importance to higher educational institutions and communities working on countering extremism through education, particularly in contexts rife with violence and ideological indoctrination. Social implications This paper has social implications on promoting awareness about extremism as a challenging social debacle. It presents workable recommendations for fostering a stronger relationship between higher education institutions and communities to defy extremism. It shows the importance of connecting curricula to community needs. Originality/value This paper fills a gap in the literature pertaining to the role of higher education institutions in countering extremism through SL in Lebanon and the MENA region.

Campus sustainability in Chinese higher education institutions

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Lo
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Energy Conservation ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Chinese Higher Education ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Campus Sustainability ◽  
The Government

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the focuses, motivations and challenges of achieving campus sustainability in Chinese higher education institutions (HEIs). Design/methodology/approach – A multisite case study was conducted in Changchun City, Jilin, where eight HEIs of various types were examined. Structured interviews with school managers, students and government officials were accompanied with analysis of relevant documents. Findings – The focuses of sustainability among the studied HEIs were on water and energy conservation and on non-technical initiatives. The focuses can be explained by motivations and challenges. The HEIs are motivated by government and financial pressures and face challenges in limited accessibility to funding. The reliance of non-technical initiatives has negatively impacted student welfare and has become unpopular among students. Practical implications – The government is advised to increase funding to HEIs in relation to sustainability and to make the funding more equitable. The HEIs are advised to modify sustainability practices that severely affect the daily lives of students, to share the benefits of water and energy conservation with their students and to involve students in sustainability governance. Originality/value – This paper adds to the existing literature in two ways. First, it expands the geographical reach of the literature to developing countries, in general, and to China, in particular. Second, it adopts the multisite case study research approach to study the whole spectrum of Chinese HEIs and highlights the differences among these HEIs when it comes to sustainability.

Toward an integrated reporting framework in higher education institutions: evidence from a public university

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guler Aras ◽  
Ozlem Kutlu Furtuna ◽  
Evrim Hacioglu Kazak
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Public University ◽  
Public Institution ◽  
Integrated Reporting ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Reporting Practices ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Reporting Framework ◽  
Technical University

Purpose The main purpose of this paper is to evaluate to what extent a public university, named Yildiz Technical University, integrated report provides disclosure on International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) content elements, suggesting the presence of integrated thinking, and whether higher education institutions’(HEIs) characteristics could affect the level of disclosure on that framework. Additionally, the purpose of this paper is to identify whether the Yildiz Technical University follows the IIRC framework and how integrated reporting can enhance the value creation for HEIs’ stakeholders in the context of voluntary reporting. Design/methodology/approach To conduct integrated reporting framework in HEIs specifically from a public university perspective, this paper has used a case study approach. Research data have been triangulated through interviews, questionnaires and finally, documents and archival records. Findings This paper gives insights into the reporting practices from a public institution, specifically from HEIs. Delivering high-quality services in an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable manner is significant to public accountability and transparency. The Yildiz Technical University has been the best example in disclosing non-financial information to its stakeholders and enhancing the accountability tool. Practical implications This paper can be a leading practice and can be considered as an integrated reporting framework for HEIs willing to follow the same path. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to investigate the integrated reporting framework in a developing country, under HEIs and specifically for a public university.

Exploring fields of ambiguity in the sustainability transition of universities

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin Bien ◽  
Coco Klußmann
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Organisational Change ◽  
Fundamental Aspect ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Sustainability Transition ◽  
Sustainability In Higher Education ◽  
Multi Method Approach ◽  
The University

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a framework that systematically captures the ambiguity of different understandings about science, the university and its relation to society, while conceptualising sustainability. Following Corley and Gioia (2004, p. 174) on identity ambiguity and change, it seems pivotal to better understanding the ambiguity of sustainability in relation to academic cultures and university models to manage the transition more effectively. Design/methodology/approach The nature of this paper’s objectives as well as the wide thematic scope leads to the need of exploring a broad knowledge base. This was best addressed by an exploratory literature review with data collection from primary and secondary sources. The data was interpreted through a hermeneutic analysis and resulted in the inductive development of first categories and goals (further referred to as category development). In addition, a multi-method approach further adjusted the categories and raised their empirical validity and social robustness. Findings Implementing sustainability involves dealing with a double bound ambiguity due to organisational and individual identity reasons. Five fields of ambiguity were developed to systemise the conceptualisation of a sustainable university along contradictory understandings of science, the university and sustainability. These fields offer a framework to qualitatively assess the degree of sustainability in higher education institutions. Arguments for and against sustainability in universities have been categorised around five criteria and associated to the fields of ambiguity. The finding indicates that meaning in organisational change management for sustainability can be considered both, a potential driver and barrier for a sustainability transition in universities. Research limitations/implications This paper exclusively focussed on the internal perspective and left aside any external factors that influence the sustainability transition, such as political measures to stimulate sustainability in higher education. In addition, the operational dimension of a sustainable university has been neglected, which is by all means a necessary and important aspect. The interrelation of the identified goals has not been discussed. Originality/value This paper focusses on the conceptualisation and understanding of sustainability within the institution, an often-forgotten but fundamental aspect of implementation. The fields of ambiguity are designed to be applied for assessing the “degree of maturity” of a sustainable university. The fields reveal the different understandings about the role, the mission and the governance of universities, stemming from competing preferences about goals and their assumed relations by various stakeholders of a higher education institutions. The five fields are not an attempt to resolve the hidden contradictions and tensions in a sustainability transition, but to state them clearly to anticipate resistances and conflicts that hinder the development of a shared understanding.

A composite index for measuring performance in higher education institutions

2014 ◽  
Vol 31 (9) ◽  
pp. 983-1001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Asif ◽  
Cory Searcy
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Composite Index ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Composite Indices ◽  
Knowledge Intensive ◽  
Integrated Performance ◽  
Hierarchy Process

Purpose – Governments and funders are increasingly linking the funding of higher education institutions (HEIs) to their performance. Performance indicators (PIs) provide a means to measure and track performance of HEIs. The purpose of this paper is to provide a structured framework for mapping out key PIs and developing a composite index for measuring performance in HEIs. Design/methodology/approach – The paper makes use of the analytic hierarchy process to develop the framework. The application of the framework is demonstrated through a case study. Findings – A structured approach to determining key PIs and developing a composite index in HEIs is elaborated. The framework developed in this paper is consensus-based, knowledge-intensive, and allows input to and ownership of the decision process and its output. Practical implications – While there are numerous PIs; organizational resources and capabilities to manage these PIs are usually limited. HEIs must manage and improve their performance within their unique contexts. This paper provides a methodology to do so. Originality/value – The process of mapping out key PIs and developing composite indices for integrated performance measurement are not adequately understood and need further research. The framework discussed in this paper has not been elaborated on in previous publications.

Increase in the demand for private higher education: unmasking the “paradox”

2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 232-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelyn Chiyevo Garwe
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Public Institutions ◽  
Private Higher Education ◽  
Private Institutions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Private Higher Education Institutions

Purpose – It is considered a mystery by many people that, despite charging significantly higher fees when compared to public institutions, research has shown an increase in the demand and enrolments at private higher education institutions. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the critical factors considered by students when deciding to make private higher education institutions their institution of choice. Design/methodology/approach – The study uses a case study approach and draws data from all the six private higher education institutions in Zimbabwe. Self-administered questionnaires were given to students representing at least 5 per cent of the student enrolment and representing all gender, study disciplines and levels of study from each university. Findings – Irrespective of gender, six main factors influencing student choice were identified to be, in order of priority: access and opportunity; promotional information and marketing; reference or influence by others; quality of teaching and learning; fees and cost structure, and finally academic reputation and recognition. Research limitations/implications – The research was focused on a case study of Zimbabwe. Practical implications – The study has implications on the way private higher education institutions market, manage and sustain the quality of educational provision. The study therefore provides private institutions with useful and practical insights on what students want in their institution of choice. This will assist these institutions in strategising in order to sustain or gain competitive advantage and to maximise on the increasing demand for private education. Implications to government and public institutions are also given. Social implications – The study recognises the critical role played by private universities in improving access and recommends African Governments who face financial and resource constraints to fund and expand public universities to encourage private higher education as a meaningful and viable way to improve access and provide higher education opportunities to potential students. Originality/value – The study contributes to the current dearth of literature on factors influencing student choice to study with private institutions.

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