scholarly journals Towards Sustainability in Higher-Education Institutions: Analysis of Contributing Factors and Appropriate Strategies

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 6562
Author(s):  
Mochamad Arief Budihardjo ◽  
Bimastyaji Surya Ramadan ◽  
Soraya Annisa Putri ◽  
Indah Fajarini Sri Wahyuningrum ◽  
Fadel Iqbal Muhammad

To depict detailed sustainability efforts that have been implemented in campus environments, research was conducted at the Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), a leading green campus in Indonesia. The aim of the current study was to explore how sustainable development has been conducted by UNDIP and to identify factors that may indicate the existence of sustainability activity in higher-education institutions (HEIs). Factors affecting sustainability implementation in HEIs were derived using bibliometric analysis. Information on the implemented strategies to maintain the sustainability of HEIs was obtained via a closed questionnaire to 40 relevant experts, and analyzed using strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis, and quantitative strategic-planning matrix (QSPM) analysis. Institutional commitment to sustainability and guidance to implement sustainability in HEIs were found to have the highest scores with regard to internal and external factors. The respondents selected more aggressive strategies for the enhancement of sustainability implementation at UNDIP. Fostering external collaboration should be a priority for UNDIP since this can provide mutual benefits and significant improvement towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The current study provides a robust self-assessment method for selecting appropriate strategies to maintain HEI sustainability.

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 7683
Author(s):  
Amila Omazic ◽  
Bernd Markus Zunk

Public sector organizations, primarily higher education institutions (HEIs), are facing greater levels of responsibility since adopting and committing to the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development (SD) and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). HEIs are expected to provide guidance for various stakeholders on this matter, but also to implement this agenda and the SDGs in their institutions. Although the role of these organizations has been recognized, the fields and issues that HEIs should address on their path towards sustainability and SD are still unclear. To provide further clarity, a semi-systematic literature review on sustainability and SD in HEIs was conducted to identify both the key concepts and main research themes that represent sustainability and SD in HEIs and to identify research gaps. This review increases our knowledge of this topic and enhances our understanding of sustainability and SD in the context of HEIs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 208 ◽  
pp. 09010
Author(s):  
Ansgar Belke ◽  
Andrei Zenkov ◽  
Larisa Sazanova

Universities and other Higher education institutions are more than ever on the cusp of disruptive and radical changes while struggling to keep their traditional remit from falling entirely into the hands of managers and accountants. This paper examines the role of (higher) education in achieving sustainable development goals and addresses the important changes facing higher education from multiple perspectives and divergent cultural viewpoints.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Núria Bautista-Puig ◽  
Ana Marta Aleixo ◽  
Susana Leal ◽  
Ulisses Azeiteiro ◽  
Rodrigo Costas

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) have become the international framework for sustainability policy. Its legacy is linked with the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), established in 2000. In this paper a scientometric analysis was conducted to: (1) Present a new methodological approach to identify the research output related to both SDGs and MDGs (M&SDGs) from 2000 to 2017, with the aim of mapping the global research related to M&SDGs; (2) Describe the thematic specialization based on keyword co-occurrence analysis and citation bursts; and (3) Classify the scientific output into individual SDGs (based on an ad-hoc glossary) and assess SDGs interconnections. Publications conceptually related to M&SDGs (defined by the set of M&SDG core publications and a scientometric expansion based on direct citations) were identified in the in-house CWTS Web of Science database. A total of 25,299 publications were analyzed, of which 21,653 (85.59%) were authored by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) or academic research centers (RCs). The findings reveal the increasing participation of these organizations in this research (660 institutions in 2000–2005 to 1,744 institutions involved in 2012–2017). Some institutions present both a high production and specialization on M&SDG topics (e.g., London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and World Health Organization); and others with a very high specialization although lower production levels (e.g., Stockholm Environment Institute). Regarding the specific topics of research, health (especially in developing countries), women, and socio-economic issues are the most salient. Moreover, it has been observed an important interlinkage in the research outputs of some SDGs (e.g., SDG11 “Sustainable Cities and Communities” and SDG3 “Good Health and Well-Being”). This study provides first evidence of such interconnections, and the results of this study could be useful for policymakers in order to promote a more evidenced-based setting for their research agendas on SDGs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohd Fadhil Md Din ◽  
Wahid Omar ◽  
Shazwin Taib ◽  
Shamsul Sarip ◽  
Santhana Krishnan

Preliminary actions taken by the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) towards the value-added from the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework that may relevant in the current indicators, elements, values and impacts, and the also constructive analysis by different sectors at High Educational Institutions (HEIs). Typically, the instrumentation on performances of each element (or indicator) in research and education portfolios are majorly defined as Key Performance Index (KPI) and/or Key Achievement/Amal Index (KAIs). All of instrumentations suitable at the vertical strategic plan to disseminate the workload across stakeholders in the HEIs. A strategic plan by each university will represent the core values and relevancy of niche area in academic and research sectors. However, UTM already is identifying the most critical element, far beyond the KPI/KAI successful story which focusses under the Pelan Global Universiti (PGU I-III) to outstanding values of inclusiveness, synergy and visibility with the important Desired State 2020. The UTM core values will serve Integrity, Synergy, Excellent and Sustainability (ISES) in all operation/services throughout trustworthy engagement with stakeholders. Meantime, the action plan for enVision 2025 institualized the pragmatic roadmaps align with the SDGs at the global benchmark, in order to horizontally manage the great grassroots improvement and further develop unique vision to UTM; named as UTMDNA. This paper describes the proactive strategic plan by UTM management to advocate the next roadmap altogether with high impact sustainable education and research works. Most of the concurrent achievement, action-plan and long-term Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0) is emphasized in the life-balance strategy framework. The second wave (2020 - 2030) of SDGs in UTM is among the most recent thoughts towards the sustainability requirements specially to serve the UN SDG and enVision 2025 (UTM). Therefore, Malaysian higher education institutions should take proactive steps in culturing SDG initiatives – guided but not bounded by the specific measures set-out in the UN Conference


Author(s):  
Diana Viljoen Bezuidenhout

Gender inequality has garnered much attention in the last few years. With the advent of the #MeToo movement, inequalities across genders, however subtle they may be, have been brought to the fore. As one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), gender equality is worked into the fabric of most constitutions worldwide (UNDP, 2015). However, pervasive gender inequality still exists in many industries, even in higher education institutions (HEIs). As no systematic review of studies related to gender equality in HEIs has been conducted, this study seeks to fulfil this gap. This paper seeks to critically evaluate research that has been conducted with regards to gender in academia and its associated dimensions. The purpose of the study is to i) identify barriers to achieving gender equality in HEIs, ii) analyse the outcomes of programmes intended to minimise gender inequality in HEIs, and iii) outline the lived experience of females in HEIs. Keywords: Gender, Higher Education Institutions, Inequality, Systematic Literature Review


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1762 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dolors Setó-Pamies ◽  
Eleni Papaoikonomou

In this editorial we are delighted to present the four papers included in this special issue. Each of them tackles different issues with important academic and managerial implications. Then, we will discuss the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the potential they represent for higher education institutions and management education, in particular. One of the most important challenges in this field will be how to introduce SDGs in management education, an area of interest for practitioners and academics.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (24) ◽  
pp. 10502
Author(s):  
José Luis Silva Munar ◽  
Susana De Juana-Espinosa ◽  
Laura Martínez-Buelvas ◽  
Yanina Vecchiola Abarca ◽  
Joan Orellana Tirado

The aim of this study is to reveal the perception of current and future organizational happiness in the context of higher education institutions (HEIs) in a cross-national study, to reveal exploratory scenarios supporting the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs). Six dimensions of organizational happiness were considered for this study: Meaning, reliable relationships, positive emotions, engagement, achievement and recognition, and personal and professional development. To do so, Delphi methodology was used. An online survey was addressed to academics and support staff from three HEIs in different countries (Chile, Colombia and Spain), whose answers were analyzed using the Approximation of Qualitative Profiles mathematical technique. The results of this analysis show that there is a favorable prospective for happy workplaces, in all the dimensions for all countries. The implications of this research will serve HEIs’ human management practitioners to formulate effective policies for sustainable workplaces based on organizational happiness.


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