| Title | Universities as the engine of transformational sustainability toward delivering the sustainable development goals "Living labs" for sustainability |
|---|---|
| ID_Doc | 74550 |
| Authors | Purcell, WM; Henriksen, H; Spengler, JD |
| Title | Universities as the engine of transformational sustainability toward delivering the sustainable development goals "Living labs" for sustainability |
| Year | 2019 |
| Published | International Journal Of Sustainability In Higher Education, 20, 8 |
| Abstract | Purpose Universities can do more to deliver against the sustainable development goals (SDGs), working with faculty, staff and students, as well as their wider stakeholder community and alumni body. They play a critical role in helping shape new ways for the world, educating global citizens and delivering knowledge and innovation into society. Universities can be engines of societal transformation. Using a multiple case study approach, this study aims to explore different ways of strategizing sustainability toward delivering the SDGs are explored in a university setting with an example from the UK, Bulgaria (Europe) and USA. Design/methodology/approach The first case is a public UK university that adopted enterprise and sustainability as its academic mission to secure differentiation in a disrupted and increasingly marketized global higher education sector; this became a source of inspiration for change in regional businesses and the local community. The second case is a business sector-led sustainability-driven transformation working with a private university in Bulgaria to catalyze economic regeneration and social innovation. Finally, a case from the office for sustainability in a major US research university is given to show how its engagement program connected faculty and students in sustainability projects within the institution and with external partners. Findings Each case is in effect a "living lab," positioning sustainability as an intentional and aspirational strategy with sustainable development and the SDG framework a means to that end. Leadership at all levels, and by students, was key to success in acting with a shared purpose. Partnerships within and with universities can help accelerate delivery of the SDGs, enabling higher education to make a fuller contribution to sustaining the economic, environmental, cultural and intellectual well-being of our global communities. Originality/value The role of universities as the engine of transformational sustainability toward delivering the SDGs has been explored by way of three case studies that highlight different means toward that end. The collegiate nature of the higher education sector, with its shared governance models and different constituencies and performance drivers, means that sustainability at a strategic level must be led with leaders at all levels acting with purpose. The "living lab" model can become a part of transformative institutional change that draws on both top-down and bottom-up strategies in pursuit of sustainable development. |
| https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/IJSHE-02-2019-0103/full/pdf?title=universities-as-the-engine-of-transformational-sustainability-toward-delivering-the-sustainable-development-goals-living-labs-for-sustainability |
Similar Articles
| ID | Score | Article |
|---|---|---|
34453
|
Giovanelli, L; Rotondo, F; Ezza, A Business models for integration of sustainability in universities: An explorative analysis of Italian state universities(2021) | |
| 72979
|
Vargas, VR; Lawthom, R; Prowse, A; Randles, S; Tzoulas, K Sustainable development stakeholder networks for organisational change in higher education institutions: A case study from the UK(2019) | |
| 74820
|
Adomssent, M; Grahl, A; Spira, F Putting sustainable campuses into force Empowering students, staff and academics by the self-efficacy Green Office Model(2019)International Journal Of Sustainability In Higher Education, 20, 3 | |
| 64
|
Sonetti, G; Brown, M; Naboni, E About the Triggering of UN Sustainable Development Goals and Regenerative Sustainability in Higher Education(2019)Sustainability, 11, 1 | |
| 74393
|
Cicmil, S; Gough, G; Hills, S Insights into responsible education for sustainable development: The case of UWE, Bristol(2017)International Journal Of Management Education, 15, 2 | |
| 65315
|
Sanches, FEF; Campos, ML; Gaio, LE; Belli, MM Proposal for sustainability action archetypes for higher education institutions(2022)International Journal Of Sustainability In Higher Education, 23.0, 4 | |
| 69921
|
Castañeda, AMP; Quintero, HFT University And Sustainability: A Theoretical Approach For Implementation(2015) | |
| 34118
|
Rotondo, F; Giovanelli, L; Ezza, A Implementing sustainable innovation in state universities: Process and tools(2023) | |
| 74254
|
Albert, M; Uhlig, M Education for sustainable development at Chemnitz University of Technology(2022)International Journal Of Sustainability In Higher Education, 23, 6 | |
| 70402
|
Lee, KH; Barker, M; Mouasher, A Is it even espoused? An exploratory study of commitment to sustainability as evidenced in vision, mission, and graduate attribute statements in Australian universities(2013) |