Comparative Analysis of Sustainable Practices …
597
From probing issues of structure and agency, it would appear as if, in both contexts;
availability of resources— financial resources and human resources—are the main
factors influencing what a university can do. The University of Pretoria is in a better
position financially and was able to implement more initiatives than the University of
Venda which is poorly resourced. Having agency may not be enough if the structure
is not providing enabling conditions.
This research managed to show differences that exist in terms of sustainability
initiatives between two universities located in two different geographical areas. The
influence of structure was also discussed. The research did not do a causal analysis
to establish mechanisms influencing the realities of the two institutions. Such an
analysis might help unearth the root causes of such disparities as well as influential
absences (critical realism theory of absence). Further research can focus on causality
and establishing absences which have to be ‘absented’ to influence positive outcomes
in cases where sustainability implementation is low.
References
Abubakar IR, Al-Shihri FS, Ahmed SM (2016) Students’ assessment of campus sustainability at
the University of Dammam, Saudi. J Sustain 8(59):1–14. https://doi.org/10.3390/su8010059
Adams J, King C, Hook D (2010) Global research report: Africa. Thompson Reuters, Leeds
African Union (2015) Agenda 2063. Available online: https://au.int/agenda2063/about. Accessed
01 Mar 2019
Allan J (2005) Apartheid South Africa: an insiders overview of the origin and effects of separate
development. Universe, United States
Alshuwaikhat HM, Abubakar I (2008) An integrated approach to achieving campus sustainability: assessment of the current campus environmental management practices. J Clean Prod
16:1777–1785
Anderberg E, Plotkin S, Norden B, Hasson B (2009) Global learning for sustainable development
in higher education: recent trends and a critique. Int J Sustain High Educ 10(4):368–378
Archer MS (1995) Realist social theory: the morphogenetic approach. Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge
Archer MS (2003) Structure, agency and the internal conversation. Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge
Archer M, Sharp R, Stones R, Woodiwiss T (1999) Critical realism and research methodology. J
Crit Realism 2(1):12–16
Benton T, Craib I (2001) Philosophy of social science: the philosophical foundations of social
thought. Palgrave, Hampshire
Bhaskar R (1978) A realist theory of science. The Harvester Press, Sussex
Brinkhurst M, Rose P, Maurice G, Ackerman JD (2011) Achieving campus sustainability: top-down,
bottom-up, or neither? Int J Sustain High Educ 12(4):338–354
Callewaert J, Marans RW (2017) Measuring progress over time: the sustainability cultural indicators
program at the university of Michigan. In Leal Filho W et al (eds), Handbook of theory and practice
of sustainable development in higher education, world sustainability series. pp 173–187. https://
doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47889-0_13. Springer International Publishing
597
From probing issues of structure and agency, it would appear as if, in both contexts;
availability of resources— financial resources and human resources—are the main
factors influencing what a university can do. The University of Pretoria is in a better
position financially and was able to implement more initiatives than the University of
Venda which is poorly resourced. Having agency may not be enough if the structure
is not providing enabling conditions.
This research managed to show differences that exist in terms of sustainability
initiatives between two universities located in two different geographical areas. The
influence of structure was also discussed. The research did not do a causal analysis
to establish mechanisms influencing the realities of the two institutions. Such an
analysis might help unearth the root causes of such disparities as well as influential
absences (critical realism theory of absence). Further research can focus on causality
and establishing absences which have to be ‘absented’ to influence positive outcomes
in cases where sustainability implementation is low.
References
Abubakar IR, Al-Shihri FS, Ahmed SM (2016) Students’ assessment of campus sustainability at
the University of Dammam, Saudi. J Sustain 8(59):1–14. https://doi.org/10.3390/su8010059
Adams J, King C, Hook D (2010) Global research report: Africa. Thompson Reuters, Leeds
African Union (2015) Agenda 2063. Available online: https://au.int/agenda2063/about. Accessed
01 Mar 2019
Allan J (2005) Apartheid South Africa: an insiders overview of the origin and effects of separate
development. Universe, United States
Alshuwaikhat HM, Abubakar I (2008) An integrated approach to achieving campus sustainability: assessment of the current campus environmental management practices. J Clean Prod
16:1777–1785
Anderberg E, Plotkin S, Norden B, Hasson B (2009) Global learning for sustainable development
in higher education: recent trends and a critique. Int J Sustain High Educ 10(4):368–378
Archer MS (1995) Realist social theory: the morphogenetic approach. Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge
Archer MS (2003) Structure, agency and the internal conversation. Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge
Archer M, Sharp R, Stones R, Woodiwiss T (1999) Critical realism and research methodology. J
Crit Realism 2(1):12–16
Benton T, Craib I (2001) Philosophy of social science: the philosophical foundations of social
thought. Palgrave, Hampshire
Bhaskar R (1978) A realist theory of science. The Harvester Press, Sussex
Brinkhurst M, Rose P, Maurice G, Ackerman JD (2011) Achieving campus sustainability: top-down,
bottom-up, or neither? Int J Sustain High Educ 12(4):338–354
Callewaert J, Marans RW (2017) Measuring progress over time: the sustainability cultural indicators
program at the university of Michigan. In Leal Filho W et al (eds), Handbook of theory and practice
of sustainable development in higher education, world sustainability series. pp 173–187. https://
doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47889-0_13. Springer International Publishing