scholarly journals The Contribution of Higher Education Institutions to the SDGs. An Evaluation of Sustainability Reporting Practices

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 97
Author(s):  
Fabio Caputo ◽  
Lorenzo Ligorio ◽  
Simone Pizzi
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Level Of Involvement ◽  
The Public ◽  
Reporting Practices ◽  
Agenda 2030 ◽  
Sustainability Reports

The introduction of Agenda 2030 has impacted the public and private sectors. Agenda 2030 is a document that aims to promote collaboration and partnership between countries and the population for the achievement of 17 SDGs, which cover all the three dimensions of sustainability: environmental, social, and economic. Within the public organizations, higher education institutions (HEIs) have shown certain attention on the topic. In particular, for many HEIs, the publication of sustainability reports has represented an instrument to disclose and publicize their commitment to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To shed light on the highly fragmented panorama of the disclosure of SDGs in the context of HEIs, the present study employed a content analysis on publicly available sustainability reports published only by the HEIs that adopted the GRI Standards as reporting guidelines. The results show the centrality of the social and environmental issues within the disclosed information. Moreover, the provision of a thematic analysis on the SDGs disclosure sections revealed the interest of the sampled HEIs in increasing the level of involvement of their stakeholders.

Characteristics of UK higher education institutions that disclose sustainability reports

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 1279-1298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Remmer Sassen ◽  
Dominik Dienes ◽  
Johanna Wedemeier
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Public Funding ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustainability Reports ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Uk Higher Education

Purpose This study aims to focus on the following research question: Which institutional characteristics are associated with sustainability reporting by UK higher education institutions? Design/methodology/approach To answer the aforementioned research question, this study uses logistic regression. Findings The results show that 17 per cent of the UK higher education institutions report on their sustainability (July 2014). In line with legitimacy and stakeholder theory, logistic regressions provide evidence that the larger the size of the institution, the higher the probability of reporting. By contrast, high public funding decreases this probability. Research limitations/implications The findings show characteristics of higher education institutions that support or hamper sustainability reporting. Overall, the findings imply a lack of institutionalisation of sustainability reporting among higher education institutions. Originality/value Although a lot of research has been done on corporate sustainability reporting, only a small number of studies have addressed the issues of sustainability reporting of higher education institutions. This study covers all sustainability reports disclosed among the 160 UK higher education institutions. It is the first study that investigates characteristics of higher education institutions that disclose a sustainability report.

scholarly journals Evolution of decision usefulness of sustainability reports

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 19-28
Author(s):  
Peter Nasiema Kamala
Keyword(s):  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Listed Companies ◽  
Dramatic Improvement ◽  
Legitimacy Theory ◽  
The Public ◽  
Reporting Practices ◽  
Decision Usefulness ◽  
Sustainability Reports

This paper provides a historical context to sustainability reporting practices of listed companies by tracing their origin and developments to determine whether such developments have resulted in decision useful reports. Using a literature review, this paper highlights the developments in the sustainability reporting practices from the 1960s to date. The findings are interpreted using the lens of legitimacy theory. The findings indicate a dramatic improvement in the decision usefulness of sustainability reports produced by listed companies from the deceptive advertisements by companies in the 1960’s to relevant, reliable, timely, comparable, verifiable and understandable reports in year 2012. The findings further suggest a change in legitimizing strategies from manipulation of the public to an attempt to genuinely educate and inform the public, which confirms the explanatory power of legitimacy theory in explaining voluntary sustainability reporting. This paper makes a number of original contributions to the literature that attempts to explain the motives of sustainabi-lity reporting. First, it is one of the few studies that have employed legitimacy theory to explain the evolution of sustainability reports. Second, it is unique in that it uses legitimacy theory to explain the evolution of decision usefulness of sustainability reports

Comprehensive sustainability reporting in higher education institutions

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sahar Sepasi ◽  
Udo Braendle ◽  
Amir Hossein Rahdari
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Future Trends ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Outreach Programs ◽  
Reporting Practices ◽  
The Future

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the comprehensiveness of sustainability reporting in higher education institutions.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopts a university sustainability rating framework and uses it to evaluate the comprehensiveness of sustainability reporting in higher education institutions.FindingsThe results of the study demonstrate that notwithstanding growing concerns over sustainability issues; higher education institutions have been slow to adopt sustainability reporting practices including publishing consistent and periodic reports, receiving third-party assurance and integrating sustainability reporting into university’s sustainability management systems.Research limitations/implicationsThe results of the study suggest that the quality of sustainability reporting varies quite significantly, and important dimensions such as education and outreach programs are ill-treated in universities’ sustainability reports. The quality presents a tremendous challenge for sustainability reporting as more organizations are joining the sustainability reporting process, the quality would become a differentiator and competitive advantage, the study concludes. Two main limitations were identified. First, the number of reports examined were limited and are not representative of all higher education institutions. Second, data from other sources, like websites, were not factored in the analysis, as the study focuses on evaluating the comprehensiveness of sustainability reporting in higher education institutions.Practical implicationsThe results provide useful insights into comprehensiveness (one aspect of quality of sustainability reporting) in higher education institutions and help to better navigate the future trends in sustainability reporting practices of universities.Originality/valueSustainability reporting is well established in the corporate environment; however, the extent to which it has been adopted and its quality in universities remains relatively unexamined. The study attempts to fill the research gap in the quality of sustainability reporting (comprehensiveness) in higher education institutions to better navigate the future trends in sustainability reporting practices of universities.

scholarly journals Mentor or tormentor? A commentary on the fractured role of mentoring in paramedicine

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Bell ◽  
Steve Whitfield
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Specific Research ◽  
The Public ◽  
Healthcare Profession ◽  
Growing Pains ◽  
The Individual

The relatively quick evolution of paramedicine and the inevitable ‘growing pains’ associated with an evolving profession has seen mentoring and the role of the mentor become clouded in confusion, ineffective education and a lack of specific research. Paramedicine’s recent development as a registered profession has also seen mentoring explicitly outlined as being a capability expected of all registered paramedics. However, the paramedic-mentoring model in Australia seems to have been mostly left up to the individual paramedic to develop in isolation from adequate training and mentoring themselves. If paramedicine is to continue its evolution as a legitimate healthcare profession, the quality of clinical mentoring must be acknowledged as a significant factor by higher education institutions, and the public and private services who employ paramedics, and nurtured accordingly.

scholarly journals Empowerment in academia: non-academic professional staff's perspectives on employee empowerment

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Salome Chitorelidze
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Employee Empowerment ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
The Public ◽  
Professional Employees ◽  
Definition Of

The concept of employee empowerment has long been heralded as advantageous to employees and organizations both in the public and private sectors. However, the concept still remains ambiguous because there is no settled idea about how it should be defined. Furthermore, employees' perspectives about employee empowerment are mostly overlooked in the existing body of research. It is particularly true about non-academic professional employees at higher education institutions and their views, concerns, or expectations with regard to empowerment. This qualitative study aimed to address the existing gaps in the literature on employee empowerment.It intended to explore non-academic professional staff's views about the definition and value of empowerment. The findings of this research study have useful implications for the definition of the concept and for academic institutions and their leaders about the role of empowerment.

scholarly journals SOURCES OF FINANCING TASKS FOR PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS: FINDINGS IN LIGHT OF THEIR REPORTING

2020 ◽  
pp. 155-176
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Pisarska
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Public Institution ◽  
Public Higher Education ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Research Results ◽  
The Public ◽  
Higher Institution

The purpose of this study is to recognize the share of self-generated sources of financing for activities of public higher education institutions as part of their general stream of financing. Therefore, the key question that will be answered in this study is: how is the structure of financing sources of a studied institution of higher education formed? In the theoretical section, findings were based on the results of literature research. In turn, in the empirical part, findings were based on the results of a case study supported by observation in a multi-field participating university. The entity's financial statements were also used. On the basis of the research results, the structure of financing sources for the studied public institution of higher education was determined, indicating the possibility of using the entity's financial reporting for this purpose. It was noticed, based on the classification of the sources of financial supply indicated in the literature, that they are heterogeneous – drawn from both the public and private sectors. An increase in the share of funds supplied from the private sector was also revealed. In turn, private sources mainly came from fees related to the teaching process. Private sources also included those from commercialization of research results. The research presented in the study has provided new knowledge about the structure of the financing sources of a public education of higher institution in the context of current conditions for its functioning. In particular, the research helps supplement the existing scarcity of knowledge about the share of self-generated financing for a public higher education institution in the general financing stream of its activities.

scholarly journals The Needs, Issues and Challenges in Implementing Instructional Design and Strategies in Higher Education Institutions

2018 ◽  
pp. 508-514
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Instructional Design ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Higher Learning ◽  
Lesson Design ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Level Of Involvement ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Learning ◽  
High Level ◽  
University Lecturers

Instructional strategies refer to the approach an instructor may take to achieve objectives and learning outcomes. The aim of this study is to identify the current training needs for Instructional Design and Strategies (IDS) in the context of the Malaysian Higher Education institutions. The objectives of the study are to identify: the lecturers’ needs in respect of knowledge and skills to support their involvement in IDS; and the issues and challenges related to the implementation of IDS in higher education. This study employs a descriptive approach involving the use of a survey questionnaire to collect data. A total of 135 respondents participated in the study. They are university lecturers in institutions of higher learning in Malaysia, both public and private, from various disciplines and with varied experiences. A majority of the respondents perceived high level of awareness of the basic principles of course/lesson design. However, the level of involvement with IDS is limited by a lack of knowledge and practice. Hence, formal training of IDS is necessary for lecturers. Four main issues and challenges pertaining to the implementation of IDS in higher education were identified in this study. Recommendations were given in light of the problems emerged from the study.

scholarly journals The Competencies and Knowledge Entrepreneurship relationship in Higher Education Institutes: Examining the Moderating Role of Organizational Climate

2020 ◽  
Vol V (I) ◽  
pp. 390-398
Author(s):  
Nida Kamal ◽  
Bakhtiar Ali ◽  
Hina Samdani
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Organizational Climate ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Transfer Of Knowledge ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Social Competencies ◽  
The Public

Higher education institutions, in the knowledge economy, have a significant role in encouraging innovation and ultimately accelerating economic growth by the creation and transfer of knowledge. This study concentrates on the construct of knowledge entrepreneurship in higher education institutions of the public and private sectors in Pakistan. It highlights the competencies required to enhance knowledge entrepreneurship in presence of an encouraging organizational climate. Using the dynamic capability theory, this study theorizes the essential role of Personal, Professional and social competencies of faculty members in Higher education institutions in creating and disseminating various forms of knowledge while the organization maintains support, encouragement, leadership and the vision to accomplish the same. Implications and areas for future research are highlighted for further expansion in literature.

A comparison of the cost of research in South Africa's public research and higher education institutions

2008 ◽  
Vol 104 (11/12) ◽  
Author(s):  
D.R. Walwyn
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Public Research ◽  
Pricing Policy ◽  
The Public ◽  
Annual Salary ◽  
Research Sector ◽  
Salary Survey ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Comparative Information

Despite the importance of labour and overhead costs to both funders and performers of research in South Africa, there is little published information on the remuneration structures for researchers, technician and research support staff. Moreover, there are widely different pricing practices and perceptions within the public research and higher education institutions, which in some cases do not reflect the underlying costs to the institution or the inherent value of the research. In this article, data from the 2004/5 Research and Development Survey have been used to generate comparative information on the cost of research in various performance sectors. It is shown that this cost is lowest in the higher education institutions, and highest in the business sector, although the differences in direct labour and overheads are not as large as may have been expected. The calculated cost of research is then compared with the gazetted rates for engineers, scientists and auditors performing work on behalf of the public sector, which in all cases are higher than the research sector. This analysis emphasizes the need within the public research and higher education institutions for the development of a common pricing policy and for an annual salary survey, in order to dispel some of the myths around the relative costs of research, the relative levels of overhead ratios and the apparent disparity in remuneration levels.

scholarly journals Data on Orientation to Happiness in Higher Education Institutions from Mexico and El Salvador

Data ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 27
Author(s):  
Domingo Villavicencio-Aguilar ◽  
Edgardo René Chacón-Andrade ◽  
Maria Fernanda Durón-Ramos
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
El Salvador ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Stepwise Multiple Regression ◽  
Teacher Student ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Student’S T

Happiness-oriented people are vital in every society; this is a construct formed by three different types of happiness: pleasure, meaning, and engagement, and it is considered as an indicator of mental health. This study aims to provide data on the levels of orientation to happiness in higher-education teachers and students. The present paper contains data about the perception of this positive aspect in two Latin American countries, Mexico and El Salvador. Structure instruments to measure the orientation to happiness were administrated to 397 teachers and 260 students. This data descriptor presents descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation), internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha), and differences (Student’s t-test) presented by country, population (teacher/student), and gender of their orientation to happiness and its three dimensions: meaning, pleasure, and engagement. Stepwise-multiple-regression-analysis results are also presented. Results indicated that participants from both countries reported medium–high levels of meaning and engagement happiness; teachers reported higher levels than those of students in these two dimensions. Happiness resulting from pleasure activities was the least reported in general. Males and females presented very similar levels of orientation to happiness. Only the population (teacher/student) showed a predictive relationship with orientation to happiness; however, the model explained a small portion of variance in this variable, which indicated that other factors are more critical when promoting orientation to happiness in higher-education institutions.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document