The University of Genoa Savona Campus Sustainability Projects

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paola Laiolo ◽  
Renato Procopio ◽  
Federico Delfino ◽  
Amedeo Andreotti ◽  
Leopoldo Angrisani
Keyword(s):  
Campus Sustainability ◽  
The University

scholarly journals Assessment of knowledge and awareness of “sustainability” initiatives among college students

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Israel Msengi ◽  
Raymond Doe ◽  
Twana Wilson ◽  
Danny Fowler ◽  
Chelsey Wigginton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
The United States ◽  
Waste Recycling ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Southeastern Part ◽  
Campus Sustainability ◽  
New Ideas ◽  
Alternative Power ◽  
Sustainability Initiatives ◽  
The University

Campus sustainability is essential for any university. Campus sustainability denotes the potential of the university to develop new ideas regarding sustainability through research, teaching, and practices. It necessitates improved academic infrastructures, setting right faculty priorities and practices that ensure that the university community is aware of sustainable practices, and that its practices reflect sustainability. This study assesses college students' knowledge and awareness of sustainability issues. After IRB approval, data were collected using the campus sustainability questionnaire. Students from a university in the southeastern part of Texas in the United States were selected and asked to participate in the study voluntarily by answering a self-report questionnaire. Findings indicate that only a minority of the students knew what sustainability was, but 95.8% indicated it was important. Although the university has committed to climate and sustainability agreements, majority of the students were not aware of it and only about 17% knew that the University's Strategic Plan has a sustainability component. Nearly 36% of the students reported receiving information about sustainability during their campus orientation. In terms of recycling, majority of the students indicated unawareness of e-waste recycling on campus; however, more than 70% reported that the library limited free printing in computer labs. More than half of the students also indicated that sustainability issues were not infused into curriculum courses or programs, and they had no knowledge of any alternative power source for the university. We concluded that a majority of the students were not conversant with sustainability issues and were largely unaware of campus sustainability initiatives. We recommended more effort to increase sustainability initiatives on campus by involving faculty, staff, and students in such endeavors. Educational programs should incorporate sustainability into their curriculum to increase students' knowledge and consciousness regarding these issues.

scholarly journals Stakeholder Perceptions of Campus Sustainability Efforts: Lessons from Vermont

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 3849 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Conner ◽  
Amanda Falkner ◽  
Nathan Lantieri ◽  
Betsy McGavisk ◽  
Bridgette McShea
Keyword(s):  
Research Methods ◽  
Applied Research ◽  
Energy Reduction ◽  
Marketing Effort ◽  
Stakeholder Perceptions ◽  
Campus Sustainability ◽  
Attitudes And Behaviors ◽  
Nuanced Understanding ◽  
The University ◽  
University Of Vermont

Universities have begun to officially recognize advancing sustainability as an institutional goal. This paper reports on research on students’ awareness, attitudes, and behaviors at the University of Vermont as a means of understanding cultural acceptance of sustainability. We report on the results of a survey administered by an applied research methods class working in partnership with the University’s Office of Sustainability. Survey respondents report strong understanding of sustainability and believe it is important. They perceive the University’s performance as strongest along environmental efforts and weakest along economic lines. Respondents were most likely to engage in sustainability behaviors, like waste and energy reduction, and least likely to attend campus events regarding sustainability. Responses to open-ended questions suggest skepticism of the University’s commitment to sustainability, seeing it as more of a marketing effort, and express a desire for more concrete initiatives to foster sustainable behaviors and culture on campus. Our implications focus on ways to promote a more holistic and nuanced understanding of sustainability.

Rivalry, excludability and positive transport externalities – case study of a private university in Poland

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (7) ◽  
pp. 1290-1312
Author(s):  
Monika Paradowska
Keyword(s):  
Private University ◽  
Transport Infrastructure ◽  
Transport Systems ◽  
External Effects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Campus Sustainability ◽  
Positive Externalities ◽  
Transport Behaviour ◽  
The University

Purpose The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of rivalry and excludability in transport systems on the positive external effects important for the functioning of a large private university in Wroclaw (Poland). In the context of campus sustainability, policy implications supporting sustainable transport are discussed. Design/methodology/approach Four research questions were formulated, which were tested by way of questionnaire research among students of the Bachelor and Engineer Programmes in Logistics and taking part in the course Transport Economics at the WSB University in Wroclaw (Poland). Findings Car use seems to be the most important for the positive transport externalities enabling the functioning of the university. Levels of rivalry and excludability did not have a significant impact on the levels of external transport benefits or the transport behaviour of students. To sustain/enhance the levels of positive external effects of transport and stimulate sustainable commuting, the university should support the development of alternative modes of transport, by improving transport infrastructure on the campus, and develop cooperation with the Wroclaw municipality to develop synergies between their transport policy goals. Research limitations/implications The research should be interpreted with care, as it is a case study of one large private university in Poland. Further research should be conducted among different private and public universities that are characterised by different levels of accessibility (location, development of infrastructure). The case study is based on students' transport behaviour, not considering transport behaviour of academic and non-academic workers, which could function as a role mode. Practical implications Policy aiming at banning cars is likely to be unsuccessful and/or could lead to a decrease in positive externalities in a short term. For this reason, more attention should be given to marketing and promotion of more sustainable means of transport, including e.g. better information on the possibilities of reaching the campus by train or urban public transport, facilitations for non-motorised students and improvements in cycling and walking infrastructure. To support campus sustainability in the field of transport, stronger cooperation with local administration is needed to undertake joint, consistent actions aimed at sharing and supporting the idea of sustainable commuting among students. Originality/value While many activities for supporting campus sustainability focus on reducing negative environmental externalities, positive externalities are not so often considered. In this context, the levels of rivalry and excludability can become an indicator of the contribution of transport systems to social and economic sustainability.

scholarly journals A fragility approach to campus sustainability – methodological explorations

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Platje
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Design Research ◽  
Traditional Approach ◽  
External Environment ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Environment Design ◽  
Literature Study ◽  
Campus Sustainability ◽  
The University

Aim: Often, the approach towards entering a path of sustainable development is that intervention needs to take place. This may lead to unwanted side effects. This paper presents the basis for explorative research on campus sustainability. The aim is to create a basis for developing a methodology for identifying fragilities, threats to organizational viability and sustainable development of the external environment. Design / Research methods: The ideas presented in this paper were developed through literature study and discussed during three explorative research workshops organized in May and June 2016 at the WSB University in Wrocław (Poland), the University of Sonora (Hermosillo, Mexico) and Siauliai University (Lithuania). The ideas developed are the basis for future research on the issue. Conclusions / findings: Although more elements are included in the survey, representing elements of organizational viability and mental models directing the path of change. The survey presented and discussed in reflection papers in this volume will be the base for further research on how to improve campus sustainability by eliminating unsustainabilities. Originality / value of the article: While the traditional approach towards campus sustainability is what action should be undertaken in order to support this aim, in this paper focus is on what not to do. It can be expected that this approach leads to less undesired side-effects than an interventionist approach.

scholarly journals The Fear of Not Flying: Achieving Sustainable Academic Plane Travel in Higher Education Based on Insights from South Australia

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2694 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Nursey-Bray ◽  
Robert Palmer ◽  
Bridie Meyer-Mclean ◽  
Thomas Wanner ◽  
Cris Birzer
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Change ◽  
Climate Adaptation ◽  
Environmental Behavior ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Academic Community ◽  
Individual Change ◽  
Campus Sustainability ◽  
Academic Communities ◽  
Social Science Study ◽  
The University

Universities are both disseminators and producers of the climate knowledge needed to institute the social and cultural change required for climate adaptation and mitigation to occur. They also have the opportunity to lead and model pro-environmental behavior, yet often have large carbon budgets, partly caused by staff travel. This paper explores this topic via an institutional case study of what factors motivate the academic community to undertake plane travel and the implications this has for wielding wider societal influence in terms of pro-environmental behavior. We report on a year-long qualitative social science study of academic plane travel at the University of Adelaide, South Australia where we investigated the tension between academic requirements to travel and the institution’s formal commitment to sustainability within the Campus Sustainability Plan. We found that, while many academics were worried about climate change, very few were willing to change their current practice and travel less because they are not institutionally incentivized to do so. There is a fear of not flying: plane travel is perceived as a key driver for career progression and this is an ongoing barrier to pro-environmental behavior. We conclude that institutional and political change will be required for individual change to occur and sustainable agendas to be met within academic communities.

scholarly journals Students’ Assessment of Campus Sustainability at the University of Dammam, Saudi Arabia

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ismaila Abubakar ◽  
Faez Al-Shihri ◽  
Sayed Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Campus Sustainability ◽  
The University

scholarly journals Green initiative in Suranaree University of Technology in Thailand

2018 ◽  
Vol 174 ◽  
pp. 01028
Author(s):  
Vacharapoom Benjaoran ◽  
Patranid Parinyakulset
Keyword(s):  
Solid Waste Management ◽  
Planted Forests ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Campus Sustainability ◽  
Integrated Solid Waste Management ◽  
World University Rankings ◽  
Water Transportation ◽  
University Of Technology ◽  
Refuse Derived Fuel ◽  
The University

Suranaree University of Technology (SUT) has participated in the Universitas Indonesia (UI) GreenMetric World University Rankings since 2013. It attempts to pursue campus sustainability programs and policies. The rankings is broadly based on the frameworks of environment, economy, and equity. The measurement criteria are divided into six categories with different point weighting i.e. setting and infrastructure, energy and climate change, waste, water, transportation, and education. These criteria heavily and directly involve the tasks and responsibilities of SUT's the Division of Buildings and Ground. A lot of environmental challenges in civil engineering and infrastructure works need to be achieved. The results of this year self-assessment show that although the university is in the developing stage, it can preserve both natural and planted forests more than 90%. It takes seriously role in green initiative by contributing 30% of total budget on sustainable efforts each year. It receives four national awards in the recognition of energy conservation initiative for green buildings. The university establishes the Integrated Solid Waste Management Plant (ISWM Plant) based on mechanical and biological treatment (MBT) which turns general wastes into valuable and sellable refuse-derived fuel (RDF). Moreover, these sustainable movements are in the continuous improvement process.

scholarly journals Knowledge and Governance: a reflection of sustainability from campus to industry

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 79
Author(s):  
Vania Sarahid Flores Borboa
Keyword(s):  
Design Research ◽  
Business Practice ◽  
University Staff ◽  
Campus Sustainability ◽  
Great Responsibility ◽  
Critical Feedback ◽  
Multi Level ◽  
Local Companies ◽  
High Level ◽  
The University

Aim: The author provides a critical reflection of the questionnaire discussed at the workshop “Methodology for assessing the campus sustainability from the perspective of multi-level antifragility” held in June 2016 at the University of Sonora (Hermosillo, Mexico). This paper poses a reflection of how the sustainability perspective in high level education institutions could define the stage of change of alumni and therefore has an influence on sustainability issues of local companies. Design / Research methods: In the article, the author applies ideas and reflections regarding the research questionnaire discussed at the workshop “Methodology for assessing the campus sustainability from the perspective of multi-level antifragility” held in June 2016 at the University of Sonora (Hermosillo, Mexico) to sustainability issues in local companies. Conclusions / findings:  Universities have great responsibility in preparing students for applying principles of sustainability into business practice. In particular regarding the complexity of the world, where knowledge can be applied in a quickly changing environment. University staff and students can have a completely different view on the existence of different fragilities. Originality / value of the article: The article provides critical feedback on an innovative approach towards research on campus sustainability in the context of application to business practice. 

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