Keywords
higher education institutions
academic well-being
environmental policy
sustainability strategy
How to Cite
Abstract
This case study examines how the Jagiellonian University (JU) in Kraków, Poland’s second-largest and one of Europe’s oldest universities, can implement its Environment and Climate Strategy through sustainable academic conferences. Using a participatory, multi-stakeholder approach informed by the quintuple-helix innovation model, it draws on two workshops with academics, university staff, students, local institutions, businesses, and NGOs and in-depth interviews with conference organisers. Findings reveal significant gaps between sustainability strategy and everyday practices, caused by administrative complexity, limited institutional support, and the responsibilisation of sustainable actions. Bottom-up initiatives and collaborative conference models emerge as practical pathways to operationalise university-wide sustainability goals. Sustainable conferences can also foster inclusivity, well-being, and stronger connections with local communities, advancing social engagement in climate action. The study offers original insights by positioning academic conferences as experimental spaces for translating abstract sustainability policies into participatory, practice-based transformations within higher education.
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