Comparative Analysis of Sustainable
Practices/Innovations Between
University of Pretoria, Gauteng
and University of Venda, Limpopo
Emma Eudine Mukwevho and Mucha Togo
Abstract Universities have become crucial in dealing with environmental challenges facing the world. Their role is fundamental in addressing environmental issues
firstly due to the impact that the institutions have on the environment and secondly
due to their massive potential as custodians of education, research and community
development. Their role in sustainable development has been reiterated through various global agendas with one of the latest being the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs). The role of education is mentioned in several SDGs especially SDG 4. This
study was undertaken to unpack and understand the contribution of universities to
Sustainable Development based on two South African universities with different histories and socio-economic contexts. The research was undertaken at the University
of Venda, a former black university situated in the poor Limpopo province of South
Africa and at the University of Pretoria, a former white institution located in Pretoria,
the country’s administrative capital city in the Gauteng Province. The study focused
on sustainable development initiatives employed in university operations, research
and community engagement only. The scope of the research (especially time limitations) did not allow inclusion of initiatives in other university functions. Qualitative
data collection methods were employed, such as interviews and site observations.
Analysis of the data was basically through a comparative analysis of implemented
initiatives based on quantity, stage of implementation, the focus and types of initiatives, and the scale of implementation. Critical realist structure/agency stratification
of reality was employed as an analytic frame for further interpretation of the results
to establish how these two strata influenced the sustainability initiatives at the two
institutions. A number of practices were identified at each of the institutions. The
practices however differed in terms of focus and the scale of implementation. The
University of Pretoria has numerous partnerships in research which has led to fundamental developments in tackling environmental issues both in its context and other
E. E. Mukwevho · M. Togo (B)
Department of Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida Campus, P. Bag X6,
Florida 1710, South Africa
e-mail: togom@unisa.ac.za
E. E. Mukwevho
e-mail: emma.mukwevho@gmail.com
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
W. Leal Filho et al. (eds.), Universities and Sustainable Communities:
Meeting the Goals of the Agenda 2030, World Sustainability Series,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30306-8_35
585
Practices/Innovations Between
University of Pretoria, Gauteng
and University of Venda, Limpopo
Emma Eudine Mukwevho and Mucha Togo
Abstract Universities have become crucial in dealing with environmental challenges facing the world. Their role is fundamental in addressing environmental issues
firstly due to the impact that the institutions have on the environment and secondly
due to their massive potential as custodians of education, research and community
development. Their role in sustainable development has been reiterated through various global agendas with one of the latest being the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs). The role of education is mentioned in several SDGs especially SDG 4. This
study was undertaken to unpack and understand the contribution of universities to
Sustainable Development based on two South African universities with different histories and socio-economic contexts. The research was undertaken at the University
of Venda, a former black university situated in the poor Limpopo province of South
Africa and at the University of Pretoria, a former white institution located in Pretoria,
the country’s administrative capital city in the Gauteng Province. The study focused
on sustainable development initiatives employed in university operations, research
and community engagement only. The scope of the research (especially time limitations) did not allow inclusion of initiatives in other university functions. Qualitative
data collection methods were employed, such as interviews and site observations.
Analysis of the data was basically through a comparative analysis of implemented
initiatives based on quantity, stage of implementation, the focus and types of initiatives, and the scale of implementation. Critical realist structure/agency stratification
of reality was employed as an analytic frame for further interpretation of the results
to establish how these two strata influenced the sustainability initiatives at the two
institutions. A number of practices were identified at each of the institutions. The
practices however differed in terms of focus and the scale of implementation. The
University of Pretoria has numerous partnerships in research which has led to fundamental developments in tackling environmental issues both in its context and other
E. E. Mukwevho · M. Togo (B)
Department of Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida Campus, P. Bag X6,
Florida 1710, South Africa
e-mail: togom@unisa.ac.za
E. E. Mukwevho
e-mail: emma.mukwevho@gmail.com
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
W. Leal Filho et al. (eds.), Universities and Sustainable Communities:
Meeting the Goals of the Agenda 2030, World Sustainability Series,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30306-8_35
585