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J. M. P. Ribeiro et al.
5.1 The Institutionalization of Sustainability in the University
A point which would be worth exploring would be the creation of an office, or sector,
especially focused on sustainability. The New South Wales University, in its annual
report about sustainability presents one of its objectives as integration, communication and engagement (UNSW 2015). That is, the need for integration between
projects, results and objectives. The University of Harvard has the Harvard Office
for Sustainability (OFS), which leads a changing initiative in all the university’s
organizations in order to establish, control and reach goals for a healthier and more
sustainable future (University of Harvard 2016).
An office focused on sustainability would enable the coordination of all the
projects and would be responsible for the control and evaluation of the initiatives.
Presently, the researched university does not have any type of quantitative control for
evaluation of green campus projects. Another point, is that in the analyzed projects
no one knew the impact that the projects could have over students and community.
According to Kamp (2006) and Mulder and Werk (2004) first there is a need to help
campus users to acknowledge that sustainable development involves actions which
do not degrade the environment and that are made from renewable resources. Second,
to teach that part of the sustainable development is linked to a broad social context.
Lastly, to teach users that the “lucrative” part involves making a positive contribution
in the long term for society, from which comes the profits of the company. Generally,
behavior is what will bring success to the initiatives for sustainability, and without a
doubt information is the source and communication is the tool to inform.
6 Conclusion
Communication failures were preponderant for the lack of success of the projects. The
information which is not transmitted means nothing. Communication is what makes
information transit between individuals and that way allows publicity of a determined
idea. The analyzed projects make these situations clear where an individual has
the information, and what has been causing the failure of the projects applied in
the university campus. In PECS the failures and clarity in communication caused
professionals to be unengaged and uninterested in developing the idea. Another
example, is the launching of a new green campus project which involves renewable
energies which does not take into account the results or connections with a similar
existing project. In a more serious case, the operational sector of the project went
months without communicating with the main managers and presently, some of the
photovoltaic panels might not be working either.
In these situations, the intermediation of the university would be important, it could
concentrate and bring ideas together, contribute to the 2030 Agenda and the SDG’s, as
well as solve communication problems that can happen during the implementation of
the projects. This paper suggests the creation of an office focused on sustainability
J. M. P. Ribeiro et al.
5.1 The Institutionalization of Sustainability in the University
A point which would be worth exploring would be the creation of an office, or sector,
especially focused on sustainability. The New South Wales University, in its annual
report about sustainability presents one of its objectives as integration, communication and engagement (UNSW 2015). That is, the need for integration between
projects, results and objectives. The University of Harvard has the Harvard Office
for Sustainability (OFS), which leads a changing initiative in all the university’s
organizations in order to establish, control and reach goals for a healthier and more
sustainable future (University of Harvard 2016).
An office focused on sustainability would enable the coordination of all the
projects and would be responsible for the control and evaluation of the initiatives.
Presently, the researched university does not have any type of quantitative control for
evaluation of green campus projects. Another point, is that in the analyzed projects
no one knew the impact that the projects could have over students and community.
According to Kamp (2006) and Mulder and Werk (2004) first there is a need to help
campus users to acknowledge that sustainable development involves actions which
do not degrade the environment and that are made from renewable resources. Second,
to teach that part of the sustainable development is linked to a broad social context.
Lastly, to teach users that the “lucrative” part involves making a positive contribution
in the long term for society, from which comes the profits of the company. Generally,
behavior is what will bring success to the initiatives for sustainability, and without a
doubt information is the source and communication is the tool to inform.
6 Conclusion
Communication failures were preponderant for the lack of success of the projects. The
information which is not transmitted means nothing. Communication is what makes
information transit between individuals and that way allows publicity of a determined
idea. The analyzed projects make these situations clear where an individual has
the information, and what has been causing the failure of the projects applied in
the university campus. In PECS the failures and clarity in communication caused
professionals to be unengaged and uninterested in developing the idea. Another
example, is the launching of a new green campus project which involves renewable
energies which does not take into account the results or connections with a similar
existing project. In a more serious case, the operational sector of the project went
months without communicating with the main managers and presently, some of the
photovoltaic panels might not be working either.
In these situations, the intermediation of the university would be important, it could
concentrate and bring ideas together, contribute to the 2030 Agenda and the SDG’s, as
well as solve communication problems that can happen during the implementation of
the projects. This paper suggests the creation of an office focused on sustainability