Abstrakt
Measuring university sustainability is an important tool for assessing and monitoring progress towards more sustainable practices and outcomes at Higher Education Institutions (HEI). This article contributes to the development of research based on stakeholders theory in universities (Miller et al., 2014), taking into account the perception of the main group of university stakeholders, i.e. students, towards sustainable university. The research objective is to empirically verify perceptions and compare the level of implementation of the sustainable university concept among students of Bialystok University of Technology. In the theoretical part, a systematic literature review was conducted. The most frequent keywords related to the topic of sustainable university were also extracted as a part of the bibliometric analysis using the VOSviewer software. In the empirical part, descriptive statistics and difference tests (U-Man Whitney) were used to identify statistically significant differences between different groups of students in terms of perception of the sustainable university concept. In light of the research conducted, it can be concluded that Bialystok University of Technology is making efforts in various areas of sustainable development. However, there are specific areas where improvements can be made, such as enhancing awareness among students about the university's sustainable development strategy, promoting critical thinking, and addressing uncertainties about certain campus activities and management policies. In the article, a new scale was developed to examine students' perceptions of a sustainable university. It includes 30 items, is based on the areas of sustainable development of universities discussed in previous studies, and takes into account new criteria, in particular, those related to ESG factors.
Bibliografia
Aleixo, A. M., Leal, S., & Azeiteiro, U. M. (2018). Conceptualization of sustainable higher education institutions, roles, barriers, and challenges for sustainability: An exploratory study in Portugal. Journal of Cleaner Production, 172, 1664-1673. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.11.010
Amaral, L. P., Martins, N., & Gouveia, J. B. (2015). Quest for a sustainable university: a review. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 16(2), 155-172. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-02-2013-0017
Anthony Jnr, B. (2021). Green campus paradigms for sustainability attainment in higher education institutions–a comparative study. Journal of Science and Technology Policy Management, 12(1), 117-148. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSTPM-02-2019-0008
Barth, M., & Rieckmann, M. (2012). Academic staff development as a catalyst for curriculum change towards education for sustainable development: an output perspective. Journal of Cleaner Production, 26, 28-36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2011.12.011
Blasco, N., Brusca, I., & Labrador, M. (2020). Drivers for universities’ contribution to the sustainable development goals: An analysis of Spanish public universities. Sustainability, 13(1), 89. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13010089
Brinkhurst, M., Rose, P., Maurice, G., & Ackerman, J. D. (2011). Achieving Campus Sustainability: Top-Down, Bottom-Up, or Neither? International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 12(4), 338-354. https://doi.org/10.1108/14676371111168269
Budzanowska-Drzewiecka, M., Tutko, M., & Bugdol, M. (2023). Commitment of Universities in Poland to Sustainable Development. In W.L. Filho, M.A.P. Dinis, S. Moggi, E. Price & A. Hope (Eds.), SDGs in the European region (pp. 1-27). Cham: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-91261-1_39-1
Carpenter, D., & Meehan, B. (2002). Mainstreaming environmental management: Case studies from Australasian universities. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 3(1), 19-37. https://doi.org/10.1108/14676370210414155
de Filippo, D., Sandoval-Hamón, L. A., Casani, F., & Sanz-Casado, E. (2019). Spanish Universities’ sustainability performance and sustainability-related R&D+ I. Sustainability, 11(20), 5570. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11205570
Deleye, M. (2023). Which “sustainable university” are we actually talking about? A topic modelling-assisted discourse analysis of academic literature. Environmental Education Research, 30(4), 609-630. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2023.2167940
Disterheft, A., Azeiteiro, U. M., Filho, W. L., & Caeiro, S. (2015). Participatory processes in sustainable universities – what to assess? International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 16(5), 748-771. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-05-2014-0079
Ferrer-Balas, D., Lozano, R., Huisingh, D., Buckland, H., Ysern, P., & Zilahy, G. (2010). Going beyond the rhetoric: system-wide changes in universities for sustainable societies. Journal of Cleaner Production, 18(7), 607-610. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2009.12.009
Figueredo, F. R., & Tsarenko, Y. (2013). Is “being green” a determinant of participation in university sustainability initiatives? International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 14(3), 242-253. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-02-2011-0017
Filho, L. W., Shiel, C., Paço, A., Mifsud, M., Ávila, L. V., Brandli, L. L., Molthan-Hill, P., Pace, P., Azeiteiro, U. M., Ruiz Vargas, V., & Caeiro, S. (2019). Sustainable Development Goals and sustainability teaching at universities: Falling behind or getting ahead of the pack? Journal of Cleaner Production, 232, 285-294. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.05.309
Filho, W. L. (2011). About the role of universities and their contribution to sustainable development. Higher Education Policy, 24, 427-438. https://doi.org/10.1057/hep.2011.16
Fischer, D., Jenssen, S., & Tappeser, V. (2015). Getting an empirical hold of the sustainable university: a comparative analysis of evaluation frameworks across 12 contemporary sustainability assessment tools. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 40(6), 785-800. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2015.1043234
Gómez, J. C., Torres, J. A. S., & Rendón, P. A. O. (2023). Sustainability Evaluation: Measurement of Dimensions in Accredited Universities in a Developing Country. International Journal of Membrane Science and Technology, 10(4), 11-24.
Kobylińska, U., & Irimia-Dieguez, A. I. (2023). Sustainable university–Knowledge and technology transfer channels to enterprises. Economics and Environment, 86(3), 527-555. https://doi.org/10.34659/eis.2023.86.3.668
Koehn, P. H., & Uitto, J. I. (2017). Universities and the sustainable development future. London: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315449968
Lambrechts, W., Mulà, I., Ceulemans, K., Molderez, I., & Gaeremynck, V. (2013). The integration of competences for sustainable development in higher education: an analysis of bachelor programs in management. Journal of Cleaner Production, 48, 65-73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2011.12.034
Lehmann, M., Christensen, P., Thrane, M., & Herreborg Jørgensen, T. (2009). Sustainable development: Assessing the gap between preaching and practice at Aalborg University. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 10(1), 4-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2009.03.013
Lozano, R., Lukman, R., Lozano, F. J., Huisingh, D., & Lambrechts, W. (2013). Declarations for sustainability in higher education: becoming better leaders, through addressing the university system. Journal of Cleaner Production, 48, 10-19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2011.10.006
Lozano, R. (2011). The state of sustainability reporting in universities. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 12(1), 67-78. https://doi.org/10.1108/14676371111098311
Lukman, R., & Glavič, P. (2007). What are the key elements of a sustainable university? Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy, 9, 103-114. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-006-0070-7
Miller, K., McAdam, M., & McAdam, R. (2014). The changing university business model: a stakeholder perspective. R&D Management, 44(3), 265-287. https://doi.org/10.1111/radm.12064
Nagy, S., & Veresne Somosi, M. (2020). Students' Perceptions of Sustainable Universities in Hungary: An Importance-Performance Analysis. Amfiteatru Economic, 22(54), 496-515. https://doi.org/10.24818/EA/2020/54/496
Nejati, M., & Nejati, M. (2013). Assessment of sustainable university factors from the perspective of university students. Journal of Cleaner Production, 48, 101-107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.09.006
Ramos, T. B., Caeiro, S., van Hoof, B., Lozano, R., Huisingh, D., & Ceulemans, K. (2015). Experiences from the implementation of sustainable development in higher education institutions: Environmental Management for Sustainable Universities. Journal of Cleaner Production, 106, 3-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.05.110
Rollnik-Sadowska, E. (2024). Labour Market in Sustainability Transitions: A Systematic Literature Review. Economics and Environment, 87(4), 681. https://doi.org/10.34659/eis.2023.87.4.681
Sart, G. (2022). Impact of Higher Education and Globalization on Sustainable Development in the New EU Member States. Sustainability, 14(19), 11916. https://doi.org/10.3390/su141911916
Sterling, S. (2013). The sustainable university: challenge and response. In The sustainable university, Routledge, 17-50.
Szpilko, D. (2015). The Future of Tourism Development in the Podlaskie Voivodeship. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 213, 977-984. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.11.514
Szpilko, D., & Ejdys, J. (2022). European Green Deal–research directions a systematic literature review. Economics and Environment, 81(2), 8-38. https://doi.org/10.34659/eis.2022.81.2.455
Szpilko, D., de la Torre Gallegos, A., Jimenez Naharro, F., Rzepka, A., & Remiszewska, A. (2023). Waste Management in the Smart City: Current Practices and Future Directions. Resources, 12(10), 115. https://doi.org/10.3390/resources12100115
Szydło, J., Czerniawska, M., Rzepka, A., & Fariñas, B. A. (2024). Inclusive management in a diversified cultural environment. Economics and Environment, 87(4), 688. https://doi.org/10.34659/eis.2023.87.4.688
Theodoraki, C., Messeghem, K., & Rice, M. P. (2018). A social capital approach to the development of sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems: an explorative study. Small Business Economics, 51, 153-170. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-017-9924-0
Tranfield, D., Denyer, D., & Smart, P. (2003). Towards a Methodology for Developing Evidence-Informed Management Knowledge by Means of Systematic Review. British Journal of Management, 14(3), 207-222. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8551.00375
Tumbas, P., Matkovic, P., Sakal, M., & Pavlicevic, V. (2015). Sustainable university: assessment tools, factors, measures and model. Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies, Barcelona, Spain, 6208-6214. https://library.iated.org/view/TUMBAS2015SUS
Velazquez, L., Munguia, N., Platt, A., & Taddei, J. (2006). Sustainable university: what can be the matter? Journal of Cleaner Production, 14(9-11), 810-819. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2005.12.008
Utwór dostępny jest na licencji Creative Commons Uznanie autorstwa – Na tych samych warunkach 4.0 Miedzynarodowe.
Prawa autorskie (c) 2024 Czasopismo "Economics and Environment"