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Conceptualization of sustainable higher education institutions, roles, barriers, and challenges for sustainability: an exploratory study in Portugal
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Higher Education Institutions play an important role in the promotion of sustainability and an increasing
number of stakeholders expect them to be sustainable organizations. However, this can only be achieved
when barriers are faced and challenges overcome.
This exploratory study aims to investigate how the main stakeholders (leaders, faculty, staff, students,
and external stakeholders) of Portuguese Public Higher Education Institutions perceive: the concepts of
sustainability and sustainable higher education institutions, the role of higher education for sustainable
development, and the barriers, challenges and obstacles to implementing sustainable initiatives in
Portuguese Public Higher Education Institutions. Through a qualitative approach, using semi-structured
interviews and content analysis procedures, this article explore the perspectives of twenty stakeholders
from four Portuguese Public Higher Education Institutions. The results suggest that, although aware of
the concept of sustainability, the different stakeholders are not familiar with the concept of sustainable
higher education institutions. The lack of financial resources due to the decline in funding for higher
education and falling numbers of Portuguese university students is perceived as the main barrier to
sustainable development in higher education (i.e. practices are still associated with spending financial
resources). This research highlights the importance of a conceptual and organizational change in higher
education institutions, notably through identifying new sources of financing, more flexible organizational
forms, more comprehensive mission statements, more tailored educational offers, life-long
learning and commitment to internationalization, and more strategic human resource management.
The paper contributes to the literature by reflecting on how higher education institutions can promote
sustainability, how higher education for sustainable development is understood and can be improved in
Portuguese Higher Education Institutions.
Description
Keywords
Higher education for sustainability development Higher education Sustainability Barriers Challenges Portugal
Citation
Aleixo, A.M., Leal, S. and Azeiteiro, U.M. (2017), “Conceptualizations of sustainability in Portuguese higher education: roles, barriers and challenges toward sustainability”, Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 172, 1664-1673, available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.11.010
Publisher
Elsevier