scholarly journals CAMPUS SUSTAINABILITY: MEASURING AWARENESS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT DIMENSIONS AMONG EDUCATORS IN MALAYSIAN UNIVERSITY

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (37) ◽  
pp. 10-26
Author(s):  
Sharmila Rani Moganadas ◽  
Subhacini Subramaniam ◽  
Shwu Huey Nun ◽  
Ainee Suriani Bahaman
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Curriculum Development ◽  
Operations Research ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Private University ◽  
Campus Sustainability ◽  
Grassroots Level ◽  
Development Approach ◽  
The University

Sustainable development has long gained momentum as an indispensable change-maker of the present and future, across nations, organisations, institutions, and individuals around the globe. Despite its universal recognition, the understanding of the concept’s constituents seems vague and heterogeneous, which has led to piecemeal initiatives that appear to impede the vision of systemic sustainability. In this disposition, many experts reckon that the higher education institutions that are in the sustainably adept nick, capable of cultivating and leading the community towards a holistic sustainable development approach. This portrays the need for a sound knowledge or awareness of sustainable development dimensions among campus actors; in particular, the educators, as it emerges as the prerequisite to campus sustainability endeavours. This paper, therefore, aims to carry out one of the grassroots level efforts, which is to measure the awareness of sustainable development dimensions among academic staff of a private university in Malaysia. This research adopted an online and offline survey to obtain responses from 169 educators. The findings show that there are significant differences in the level of awareness on sustainable development dimensions (economy, social, and environment) among educators of the university. Gaps and needs identified in this study can be useful to the management to better orientate their actions towards campus sustainability plans, such as policies, curriculum development, operations, research, etc.

The Role of Financing Higher Education in Nigerian Universities in Achieving Sustainable Development

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 551-578
Author(s):  
Samir Mohamad Hassan
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Private University ◽  
Accurate Information ◽  
Community Initiatives ◽  
Higher Education Financing ◽  
The University ◽  
Financing Higher Education ◽  
The Impact

The current study aims to identify the role of financing higher education in Nigerian universities in the state of Kano and its impact on sustainable development. The study problem lies in the low funding of higher education in Nigerian universities, which will negatively affect the sustainability of higher education and sustainable development. The importance of the study is highlighted by highlighting the importance of financing higher education in Nigerian universities and the sources of obtaining this funding as one of the most important factors through which students can complete their studies. The study followed the qualitative approach with the aim of obtaining more accurate information about traditional higher education financing sources and its impact on the sustainability of education and achieving sustainable development. The study population reached the number of three Nigerian universities, which are a governmental, federal and private university, to learn about the impact of financing higher education in Nigerian universities on sustainable development. The sample of the study was about three out of five of those responsible for financing higher education in Nigerian universities. Also, the study followed unstructured or open interviews in order to obtain more information about financing higher education and whether or not it is suitable for the idea of a monetary endowment. The results of the study showed that the sources of financing for higher education in traditional Nigerian universities are varied, including what can be obtained through the endowment and donations fund that can be made through community initiatives, and the results of the study also indicated that the idea of a monetary endowment faces great challenges in its application, so the idea is subject to acceptance and rejection. According to the nature of the university and the nature of the subjects taught. The study recommended the necessity of expanding the study of the impact of financing higher education in Nigerian universities by expanding the scope of study to include all Nigerian states.

scholarly journals University of Wollongong in Dubai: creating a private university in the public interest

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rob Whelan ◽  
Daniel Kratochvil
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Public Interest ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Private University ◽  
Subject Area ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Complex Organization ◽  
The University

TitleUniversity of Wollongong in Dubai: creating a private university in the public interest.Subject areaHigher education leadership and planning.Study level/applicabilityPostgraduate/higher education.Case overviewProfessor Rob Whelan was appointed President of the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) from the University of Wollongong in Australia (UOW). Professor Whelan brought to the job in Dubai the perspective that public‐good benefits flow from a comprehensive institution engaged with the larger community and these are led by academic staff members who produce research that serves the national interest. To apply this model to UOWD meant a thorough analysis of the organization in terms of both its culture and its broader environment. This case explores the various processes through which a new leader takes stock of an existing institution, identifies the potential for development in a particular direction, draws upon a range of stakeholders to refine the vision and develop it into a strategic plan, gains support for the plan, and then implements change through close collaboration with the institution's constituents.Expected learning outcomesThis case can be used to explore a number of issues in leadership and management including: identifying the various internal and external stakeholders in a complex organization; analysing strategies for mobilization for change, including the assessment of inclusive versus exclusive approaches; reviewing the opportunity costs of change; and assessing types of leadership.Supplementary materialsTeaching notes.

scholarly journals Neither ‘bolt-on’ nor ‘built-in’: benefits and challenges of developing an integrated skills curriculum through a partnership model

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Cairns ◽  
Tamara Hervey ◽  
Oliver Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Curriculum Development ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Skills Assessment ◽  
Partnership Model ◽  
The University

All universities are seeking to develop their students’ skills. Typically, they deploy either or both an independent ‘skills’ offering, separate from disciplinary learning (‘bolt-on’); and/or individual academic staff embedding skills assessment in some modules (‘built-in’). What are the drawbacks of ‘bolt-on’ and ‘built-in’? To what extent does a partnership model, involving an integrated and longitudinal skills curriculum, resolve those drawbacks? Under what circumstances is this possible? What are the main barriers? We present a case study of a major curriculum development in the School of Law at the University of Sheffield to argue that the benefits of partnership probably outweigh either ‘bolt-on’ or ‘built-in’. However, some of the enablers and inhibitors associated with contemporary higher education (HE) may suggest that ‘built-in’ is more viable. This is not primarily because of the difficulties of engaging academic disciplinary specialists; rather it is better explained by structural and institutional rigidities. We therefore recommend courage to take a long view, to aim high, and to celebrate small successes.

scholarly journals Increasing University Competitiveness through Assessment of Green Content in Curriculum and Eco-Labeling in Higher Education

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 712
Author(s):  
Andrea Okanović ◽  
Jelena Ješić ◽  
Vladimir Đaković ◽  
Simonida Vukadinović ◽  
Andrea Andrejević Panić
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Environmental Problems ◽  
Green Jobs ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
The World ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Novi Sad ◽  
The University

Growing environmental problems and increasing requirements of green jobs force universities around the world not only to transform their curricula but also to enrich existing ones with contents related to the promotion of sustainable development. This paper aims to show the importance of measuring and monitoring the share of green contents in all university activities, as only in that way it is possible to monitor trends and give realistic assessments of their effect and importance. The paper presents a comparative analysis of different types of methodologies for assessing sustainable activities at universities as well as research conducted at the University of Novi Sad in Serbia and its comparison with the University of Gothenburg (Sweden). This research aims to point out the importance of increasing competitiveness in higher education through assessment of green content in a curriculum and its promotion. In this way, through eco-labeling methodology, it would be easier to identify those contents that, in a certain share, contribute to the promotion of sustainable development. Furthermore, this methodology can easily be extended across the country and the region, which would bring positive effects to all stakeholders in higher education.

scholarly journals A Holistic Approach to Integrate and Evaluate Sustainable Development in Higher Education. The Case Study of the University of the Basque Country

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 392
Author(s):  
Estibaliz Sáez de Cámara ◽  
Idoia Fernández ◽  
Nekane Castillo-Eguskitza
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Basque Country ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Institutional Setting ◽  
Practical Case ◽  
Development Indicators ◽  
Agenda 2030 ◽  
The University

Since the United Nations (UN) approved the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development in 2015, higher education institutions have increasingly demonstrated their commitment by supporting several initiatives. Although a great deal of progress has been made, there is still a lack of integrative approaches to truly implement Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in higher education. This paper presents a practical case that illustrates how to design and articulate SDGs within an institutional setting adopting a holistic approach: EHUagenda 2030 plan of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU). It is based on empirical inquiry into global and holistic sustainable transformation and a real experience to move towards a verifiable and pragmatic contribution to sustainability. This plan describes the contribution to 12 of the 17 SDGs, along with three sectorial plans (Equality Campus, Inclusion Campus and Planet Campus), as well as the refocus of the UPV/EHU’s Educational Model and the panel of sustainable development indicators, which addresses the technical aspects of monitoring the SDGs. The methodology (mapping; mainstreaming; diagnosis and definition and, finally, estimation) is systematic and replicable in other universities yet to embark upon this integration. This case study makes a contribution towards the understanding of the complexity of the changes in Higher Education and the ways to approach it.

scholarly journals University Teachers’ Perception of Quality in Higher Education in Ethiopia: A Case Study of Dire Dawa University

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Melaku Masresha Woldeamanuel ◽  
Belay Sitotaw Goshu
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Educational Institution ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Process Indicators ◽  
Perception Of Quality ◽  
Quality In Higher Education ◽  
Teaching Learning ◽  
The University ◽  
Output Indicators

This article empirically assesses perception of quality in higher education in Ethiopia.  The data was collected from one higher educational institution where the staffs are graduates of 31 different universities in Ethiopia. The information used in this study was obtained through administration of questionnaires. The main participants are the academic staff of the University. The total number of staff that participated in the research was 365. Purposive sampling technique was employed to select 365 teachers (302 male and 63 female) and seventeen classrooms were observed and twelve group discussions carried out with participants of Ethiopian educational roadmap. Data were analyzed by both descriptive statistics of percentages and inferential statistics of, t-test, correlation and one way ANOVA. Results indicated that teacher’ valued input indicators of quality of education more than process and output indicators. Output indicators received the lowest rating. Teachers’ practice also indicated that they apply process indicators in a reasonable manner. The results of relationship between practices of teaching learning processes revealed that, as teachers’ perception toward quality teaching learning process increases their practice of elements of constructivism also increases.

scholarly journals Students’ Attitude toward Carbon Footprints of a Leading Private University in India

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Manvi Khandelwal ◽  
Vinamra Jain ◽  
Ashok Sharma ◽  
Sanjeev Bansal ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Private University ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Shared Services ◽  
Carbon Footprints ◽  
Education In India ◽  
The University

Asia-Pacific is currently in charge of almost half of the worldwide carbon outflows and thus causing harm to the environment. So, in order to reduce t he carbon outflow, it is important to calculate or know the carbon dioxide emissions of Indian students perusing higher education in India and analyze the attitudes of students to reduce carbon footprint levels in the university campus. For this purpose, data were collected by conducting an online survey from 200 students pursuing higher education in a leading private university to assess individual carbon footprint per student by using the calculator developed. Findings revealed that higher awareness level of individual footprints positively impacted their behavior toward carbon footprint reduction as students are willing to avail shared services available in campus.

Professional community and student engagement in higher education: rethinking the contributions of professional staff

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaw Owusu-Agyeman ◽  
Enna Moroeroe
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Student Engagement ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Professional Community ◽  
Professional Staff ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Service Culture ◽  
The University

PurposeScholarly studies on student engagement are mostly focused on the perceptions of students and academic staff of higher education institutions (HEIs) with a few studies concentrating on the perspectives of professional staff. To address this knowledge gap, this paper aims to examine how professional staff who are members of a professional community perceive their contributions to enhancing student engagement in a university.Design/methodology/approachData for the current study were gathered using semi-structured face-to-face interviews among 41 professional staff who were purposively sampled from a public university in South Africa. The data gathered were analysed using thematic analysis that involved a process of identifying, analysing, organising, describing and reporting the themes that emerged from the data set.FindingsAn analysis of the narrative data revealed that when professional staff provide students with prompt feedback, support the development of their social and cultural capital and provide professional services in the area of teaching and learning, they foster student engagement in the university. However, the results showed that poor communication flow and delays in addressing students’ concerns could lead to student disengagement. The study further argues that through continuous interaction and shared norms and values among members of a professional community, a service culture can be developed to address possible professional knowledge and skills gaps that constrain quality service delivery.Originality/valueThe current paper contributes to the scholarly discourse on student engagement and professional community by showing that a service culture of engagement is developed among professional staff when they share ideas, collaborate and build competencies to enhance student engagement. Furthermore, the collaboration between professional staff and academics is important to addressing the academic issues that confront students in the university.

scholarly journals Research as a Base for Sustainable Development of Universities: Using the Delphi Method to Explore Factors Affecting International Publishing among Vietnamese Academic Staff

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 3449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trung Tran ◽  
Thao-Phuong-Thi Trinh ◽  
Cuong-Minh Le ◽  
Linh-Khanh Hoang ◽  
Hiep-Hung Pham
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Delphi Method ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Higher Education System ◽  
International Publishing

In recent years, the Vietnamese government has put significant effort into the internationalization of research in the higher education system via the use of international publications (i.e., publications indexed by citation databases such as ISI Web of Science and Scopus) in evaluating their academic staff and doctoral students. Academic staff in Vietnam, who traditionally have low numbers of international publications, have thus been pushed to improve their competencies in order to meet the new requirements for research productivity. However, we have little understanding of the factors influencing international publication as perceived by Vietnamese academic staff. This study aims to fill the gap by using the Delphi method. Academic staff with at least one international publication were invited, via purposeful sampling, to participate in a two-round Delphi survey. The survey revealed 14 key factors, which were further classified into three dimensions: “policy-related factors,” “capability-related factors,” and “networking-related factors”. These factors were the key determinants in the success of international publishing, according to the study participants. The findings provide implications for policymakers and university leaders for enhancing the research capacities of Vietnamese universities, forming a basis for the sustainable development of the higher education sector in Vietnam.

scholarly journals Appointing and Removing Academic Staff in Public Institutions: The Level of Autonomy at Kyambogo University, Uganda

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 101
Author(s):  
Ayebare Justin ◽  
Kisige Abdu ◽  
Gitta Eric ◽  
Betihama Jackson ◽  
Kimoga Joseph
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Public Institutions ◽  
Institutional Autonomy ◽  
State Control ◽  
University Autonomy ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
Resource Manual ◽  
The University ◽  
Skilled Staff

Many governments, the university sector and the European Commission have recognized that increasing university autonomy represents a crucial step towards modernizing higher education in the 21st century. This study which was conducted at Kyambogo University highlights that in practice, public authorities still play a central role in the regulation of higher education systems more especially in the appointment and dismissal of academic staff. Despite the fact that the ministry has moved away from direct state control towards more “indirect” steering mechanisms, universities often continue to lack autonomy in many crucial areas, particularly in terms of filling staff positions. The purpose of this study therefore was to establish the level of institutional autonomy in academic staff appointment and removal at Kyambogo University. The researchers analysed each dimen¬sion of university autonomy in terms of appointment and dismissal of academic staff. We found out that appointment and removal of the academic staff in Kyambogo University was not in line with what is provided for in the Human Resource Manual and national guiding Acts, Laws and Standing orders. We recommend that since universities have a unique duty to perform that requires specific skilled staff, they should be given autonomy in the appointment and removal of these staff.

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