Loading...
3 results
Search Results
Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
- Sustainability science and education for sustainable development in universities : a way for transitionPublication . Disterheft, Antje; Caeiro, Sandra; Azeiteiro, Ulisses; Leal Filho, WalterThe debate about sustainable development (SD) in higher education institutions has expanded over the past decades. It has been recognized that universities play a pivotal role in promoting sustainability principles, contributing to the paradigm shift toward a more sustainable present and future. Campus sustainability—commonly understood in a broad sense that includes the physical, educational (teaching, curricula, research), and institutional dimensions—is an evolving study field, as indicated by the growing number of articles in academic journals, conferences, awards, and books (like the present one) dedicated to the subject. From the academic point of view, the emergent fields of sustainability science and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) have advanced the efforts of mainstreaming sustainability and implementing concrete practices in universities. But despite some progress and good examples, only a few institutions follow a SD implementation process holistically. A one-sided trend of ‘‘going green,’’ driven by market requirements, marketing advantages, and economic benefits, increases the risks of greenwashing. Reductionist models and misconceptions may cause sustainability initiatives to be wrongly reduced to single aspects of SD like environmental initiatives, losing meaning and credibility. This chapter addresses the question of what role the emerging fields of sustainability science and ESD can play within the transition to more sustainable universities. It aims to contribute to a more holistic perception of SD and examines some of the trends being observed in the higher education sector. Universities are challenged to reflect about educational objectives and strategic goals in their sustainability implementation processes, if they aim to educate the academic community beyond eco-efficiency and recycling. ESD and sustainability science are normative academic fields, action-oriented and close to society. Along with universities as democratic institutions, these fields constitute essential vehicles to investigate, test, and develop conditions for truly transformative change.
- Sustainability at the campus : environmental management systems (EMS) implementation processes and practices at European Higher Education Institutions : top-down versus participatory approachesPublication . Disterheft, Antje; Azeiteiro, Ulisses; Caeiro, SandraDados os complexos desafios com os quais o nosso mundo de hoje está confrontado, as universidades são solicitadas a responder à necessidade de criar um futuro sustentável, que ambiciona uma vida digna para as gerações actuais sem comprometer a das gerações futuras. Este trabalho está inserido no debate sobre o desenvolvimento sustentável e sobre o papel das universidades em contribuírem para a construção de sociedades sustentáveis. Incide sobre as oportunidades que sistemas de gestão ambiental (SGA) oferecem para melhorar a sustentabilidade do campus, para envolver a comunidade institucional e para aumentar a sensibilização para práticas sustentáveis na vida académica, profissional e pessoal. O trabalho está baseado numa combinação de métodos qualitativos e quantitativos, utilizando-se uma extensiva revisão de literatura, um questionário online com um desenho de tipo transversal e uma análise de estatística descritiva e bivariada. Os processos de implementação top-down foram comparados com abordagens participativas, e as últimas têm sido utilizadas para desenvolver um grau de desempenho participativo. Fornece-se uma visão geral de 47 instituições de ensino superior na Europa com um SGA no campus, e apresenta-se, com base nos resultados do questionário respondido por 35 universidades, uma análise detalhada dos processos de implementação do SGA nos campi europeus. Entre vários reconhecimentos e aspectos práticos para o envolvimento dos estudantes e colaboradores, os resultados mostram que um SGA pode ser um instrumento fundamental no processo global do reforço da sustentabilidade no campus. Relativamente à abordagem da implementação de um SGA, consideramos como mais eficaz uma abordagem participativa ou uma que combine elementos top-down e participativos, para realizar a dupla missão de uma universidade: (1) Reduzir o impacto ambiental da instituição (2) Executar investigação e ensino, que oferecem oportunidades para aumentar a sensibilização para coerências complexas e desenvolver competências que conduzam a práticas mais sustentáveis.Os resultados podem contribuir para o debate em curso sobre a sustentabilidade do campus e ser de utilidade para as universidades que têm implementado um SGA, ou que desejam obter inspirações das actividades de outras instituições nesta área. Oferece-se sugestões para a prática profissional. In the light of the complex challenges our world of today is confronted with, universities are requested to respond to the need of creating a sustainable future that envisions a dignified life for the current generations without compromising those of next generations. This research is embedded within the debate about sustainable development and about the role universities play in contributing to build sustainable societies. It focuses on the opportunities environmental management systems (EMS) can offer to enhance campus sustainability, student and staff engagement and awareness raising for sustainable practices in the academic, professional and personal life. The research is based on a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, using an extensive literature review, an internet-mediated questionnaire of a cross-sectional survey design and a descriptive statistical data analysis, including in some cases a bivariate analysis. Top-down implementation processes were compared to participatory approaches and the latter have been used to develop a degree of participatory performance. We provide an overview about 47 higher education institutions in Europe with an EMS at the campus and present, based on the results of the survey answered by 35 universities, a detailed analysis of EMS implementation processes and practices in European campuses. Among a number of insights and practical aspects for student and staff involvement, the results show that an EMS can be a key tool in the overall process to enhance campus sustainability. With respect to the implementation approach of an EMS, we regard a participatory approach or a mix of top-down and participatory elements as most effective to accomplish the twofold mission of a university: (1) To reduce the institutional environmental impact and (2) to carry out research and teaching, offering opportunities to increase awareness for complex coherences and to develop competencies that lead to more sustainable practices. The results shall contribute to the ongoing discussion about campus sustainability and be of use for universities that have implemented an EMS or that wish to get inspirations from other institutions‘ activities in this field. Implications for the professional practice are provided.
- Environmental Management Systems (EMS) implementation processes and practices in european higher education institutions: top-down versus participatory approachesPublication . Disterheft, Antje; Caeiro, Sandra; Ramos, Maria do Rosário; Azeiteiro, UlissesEnvironmental Management Systems (EMS) have been implemented on a large scale to improve companies’ environmental performance and to certify their achievements. More recently, universities are following this trend, which has been brought forward by the debate about campus sustainability. This empirical international research investigates EMS development and implementation processes in universities around Europe, providing an overview about European higher education institutions with EMS implemented at their campuses, and focuses on a comparison of top-down versus participatory implementation approaches. In addition to regional differences, this article discusses in which aspects an EMS at the campus can be seen as a tool that goes beyond operational aspects to tackle campus sustainability. Furthermore, it provides implications for the professional practice.