Benchmarks Analysis of the Higher
Education Institutions Participants
of the GreenMetric World University
Ranking
Nathália Hipólito Cardozo, Sérgio Ricardo da Silveira Barros,
Osvaldo Luis Gonçalves Quelhas, Euricerio Rodrigues Martins Filho
and Wagner Salles
Abstract The approach of the first concept of sustainable development released in
the Brundtland report (The Brundtland report: “Our Common Future”. Oxford University Press, New York, 1987), has led to a global diffusion of important discussions
concerning the environment until the present. Posteriorly, the significance of Higher
Education Institutions (HEIs) to reach sustainability was noticed due to their role as
educators and research potential. Numerous conferences, focusing on sustainability
in HEIs took place in the post-Brundtland era, strengthening the need for joint work
between society, governance and HEIs to achieve sustainability worldwide. However,
the various possibilities of sustainable development actions presented in charters and
declarations for sustainability in HEIs, since the 1980s have made their implementation a complex task. The UI GreenMetric World University Ranking (WUR) is one
of the most recent evaluation tools of sustainability in HEIs, but with significant participation of private and public HEIs. Designed to engage HEIs from developed and
developing countries, the tool encourages the continued pursuit of sustainable practices, healthy competition among HEIs, and even fosters financial investments from
third parties. In this sense, therefore, the present work aimed to identify and compare
the benchmarks of four-best ranked HEIs and of four Brazilian HEIs participants
of the WUR. Through the benchmarking methodology, and with the support of the
selected HEIs sustainable reports, divergences, and similarities were identified about
N. H. Cardozo (B) · S. R. da Silveira Barros · O. L. G. Quelhas · E. R. M. Filho · W. Salles
Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Campus da Praia Vermelha, Rua Passo da Pátria, 156,
São Domingos, Niterói, RJ 24210-240, Brazil
e-mail: nathaliahipolito@id.uff.br
S. R. da Silveira Barros
e-mail: sergiobarros@id.uff.br
O. L. G. Quelhas
e-mail: osvaldoquelhas@id.uff.br
E. R. M. Filho
e-mail: efilho@qsmspro.com
W. Salles
e-mail: adm.wagner.salles@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_40
667
Education Institutions Participants
of the GreenMetric World University
Ranking
Nathália Hipólito Cardozo, Sérgio Ricardo da Silveira Barros,
Osvaldo Luis Gonçalves Quelhas, Euricerio Rodrigues Martins Filho
and Wagner Salles
Abstract The approach of the first concept of sustainable development released in
the Brundtland report (The Brundtland report: “Our Common Future”. Oxford University Press, New York, 1987), has led to a global diffusion of important discussions
concerning the environment until the present. Posteriorly, the significance of Higher
Education Institutions (HEIs) to reach sustainability was noticed due to their role as
educators and research potential. Numerous conferences, focusing on sustainability
in HEIs took place in the post-Brundtland era, strengthening the need for joint work
between society, governance and HEIs to achieve sustainability worldwide. However,
the various possibilities of sustainable development actions presented in charters and
declarations for sustainability in HEIs, since the 1980s have made their implementation a complex task. The UI GreenMetric World University Ranking (WUR) is one
of the most recent evaluation tools of sustainability in HEIs, but with significant participation of private and public HEIs. Designed to engage HEIs from developed and
developing countries, the tool encourages the continued pursuit of sustainable practices, healthy competition among HEIs, and even fosters financial investments from
third parties. In this sense, therefore, the present work aimed to identify and compare
the benchmarks of four-best ranked HEIs and of four Brazilian HEIs participants
of the WUR. Through the benchmarking methodology, and with the support of the
selected HEIs sustainable reports, divergences, and similarities were identified about
N. H. Cardozo (B) · S. R. da Silveira Barros · O. L. G. Quelhas · E. R. M. Filho · W. Salles
Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Campus da Praia Vermelha, Rua Passo da Pátria, 156,
São Domingos, Niterói, RJ 24210-240, Brazil
e-mail: nathaliahipolito@id.uff.br
S. R. da Silveira Barros
e-mail: sergiobarros@id.uff.br
O. L. G. Quelhas
e-mail: osvaldoquelhas@id.uff.br
E. R. M. Filho
e-mail: efilho@qsmspro.com
W. Salles
e-mail: adm.wagner.salles@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_40
667