460
M. Bizerril et al.
levels, especially in the training of students to address the issue in society. The need
for an internal debate on sustainability also stood out in the opinions of the academic
community in the study cited about the case of a Portuguese university (Bizerril et al.
2018).
Thus, although there are monitoring systems options applicable for universities,
the discussion of the indicators to be adopted for the campus is itself a key stage of
development of the understanding of the concept of sustainability to be built for the
campus. Not least because the university needs to permanently exercise its role as
a “laboratory of current reality”, as suggested by González-Gaudiano et al. (2015,
p. 71). Such is the case in rethinking the local application of concepts produced in
the global context.
Even if participation is not widespread at first, it is important that it is qualified
and representative so that bottom-up initiatives could be incorporated in the future,
as noted in the present case. Indeed, pioneering sustainability projects on campus
has a natural approach, and are essential to the establishment of an initial critical
mass to conduct the work of the sustainability plan for the campus. However, the
gradual engagement strategies of the academic community need to be addressed and
strengthened. It should be expected that increased participation may imply changes
in the indicators based on new suggestions, which is positive for the process, but care
must be taken to respect the holistic/complex concept of sustainability assumed in
initial stages.
Sustainability in higher education cannot be promoted only by top-down actions,
as it shall not be an action of a management mandate but an institutional goal through
internally approved legal provisions. For this reason, the FUP campus has advanced
in the formalization of an environmental advisory, a sustainability policy, and now
in the instrument for monitoring sustainability.
Another aspect already mentioned that seems to be strategic for sustainable universities is the sense of belonging of the academic community in relation to campus.
That feeling certainly results in increased care with something that is not a private
good. Rather, as in the case of Brazilian federal universities as public entities, it is a
direct component in the formation of an environmental citizenship. The promotion
of sense of belonging goes through various educational activities, but one aspect that
has been strengthened in the FUP concerns the quality of the environment. Examples
include: landscaping, the application of colors and drawings on the walls, the presence of animals (associated with responsible care projects for them), the expansion
of conviviality and rest spaces. All of these are aspects that enhance the feeling of
comfort and pleasure in being on campus, which, although there is a lack of empirical
evidence, suggest establishing the conditions for the promotion of the sense of care
and responsibility.
The existence of celebrations, strengthening democracy and happiness make up
another aspect suggested by Disterheft et al. (2016) as determinants for sustainability
in universities. In this sense, FUP has been practicing a schedule for years that
includes regular general meetings with the academic community, and celebrations
as the FUP’s birthday, the June Festival (traditional Brazilian party), the University
Week (with diversified activities for the whole academic and external community),
M. Bizerril et al.
levels, especially in the training of students to address the issue in society. The need
for an internal debate on sustainability also stood out in the opinions of the academic
community in the study cited about the case of a Portuguese university (Bizerril et al.
2018).
Thus, although there are monitoring systems options applicable for universities,
the discussion of the indicators to be adopted for the campus is itself a key stage of
development of the understanding of the concept of sustainability to be built for the
campus. Not least because the university needs to permanently exercise its role as
a “laboratory of current reality”, as suggested by González-Gaudiano et al. (2015,
p. 71). Such is the case in rethinking the local application of concepts produced in
the global context.
Even if participation is not widespread at first, it is important that it is qualified
and representative so that bottom-up initiatives could be incorporated in the future,
as noted in the present case. Indeed, pioneering sustainability projects on campus
has a natural approach, and are essential to the establishment of an initial critical
mass to conduct the work of the sustainability plan for the campus. However, the
gradual engagement strategies of the academic community need to be addressed and
strengthened. It should be expected that increased participation may imply changes
in the indicators based on new suggestions, which is positive for the process, but care
must be taken to respect the holistic/complex concept of sustainability assumed in
initial stages.
Sustainability in higher education cannot be promoted only by top-down actions,
as it shall not be an action of a management mandate but an institutional goal through
internally approved legal provisions. For this reason, the FUP campus has advanced
in the formalization of an environmental advisory, a sustainability policy, and now
in the instrument for monitoring sustainability.
Another aspect already mentioned that seems to be strategic for sustainable universities is the sense of belonging of the academic community in relation to campus.
That feeling certainly results in increased care with something that is not a private
good. Rather, as in the case of Brazilian federal universities as public entities, it is a
direct component in the formation of an environmental citizenship. The promotion
of sense of belonging goes through various educational activities, but one aspect that
has been strengthened in the FUP concerns the quality of the environment. Examples
include: landscaping, the application of colors and drawings on the walls, the presence of animals (associated with responsible care projects for them), the expansion
of conviviality and rest spaces. All of these are aspects that enhance the feeling of
comfort and pleasure in being on campus, which, although there is a lack of empirical
evidence, suggest establishing the conditions for the promotion of the sense of care
and responsibility.
The existence of celebrations, strengthening democracy and happiness make up
another aspect suggested by Disterheft et al. (2016) as determinants for sustainability
in universities. In this sense, FUP has been practicing a schedule for years that
includes regular general meetings with the academic community, and celebrations
as the FUP’s birthday, the June Festival (traditional Brazilian party), the University
Week (with diversified activities for the whole academic and external community),