Sustainable Development in Higher Education …
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2 Sustainability in HEIs: A Brief History
In the last few decades, several initiatives to promote SD in HEIs have emerged,
demonstrating how relevant universities are in driving this initiative forward (Aleixo
et al. 2018). Since the 1970s, there is an increasing international awareness about
the inherent connections there are between HEIs, environmental education and
SD education (Mckeown and Hopkins 2010; Pereira et al. 2014). In the drive
towards understanding these connections, some conferences, declarations and initiatives are highlighted as key milestones. In particular, the Tbilisi Declaration, the
Talloires Declaration and the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable
Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (Berchin et al. 2020).
Generally, environmental education is a term used to address relations between
education and sustainability awareness that should also be implemented in HEIs
operational activities as much as it is in their teaching curricula (i.e., practice what
you teach). This example helps the wider society to become more aware and willing
to participate actively in actions that consider sustainable behavior and thinking
(Zsóka et al. 2013; Dmochowski et al. 2016). To be effective, sustainability must be
implemented in all sectors of HEI operations, i.e., education, research, management,
community engagement, culture and governance (Aleixo et al. 2018). These activities
should be monitored so that greater effort is made to implement them, stimulating
dialogue and participation among all members of the university (Calitz et al. 2018).
Thus, the implementation of initiatives that stimulate environmental awareness and
practical actions contributes to the creation of greening campus processes, improving
academic sustainability and the integration between HEIs’ users and the society
(Ribeiro et al. 2017).
3 Sustainable Development in HEIs: An Overview
HEIs are the places where future leaders are educated (Freidenfelds et al. 2018). As
they have a critical role in promoting research and innovation, they promote experiences, shape behaviors, create and disseminate knowledge—making them drivers of
social changes (Berchin et al. 2018). HEIs are also major employers and economic
actors. For example, if all British HEIs were put together, they would create the fifth
biggest city in the UK. As leaders in sustainability challenges, HEIs can develop technology and raise environmental awareness between students and the wider community (Wadud et al. 2019). HEIs focus on teaching, extension/outreach projects and
research which contributes to the development of greening campus processes and,
consequently, setting a standard for the reduction of waste and energy.
Traditionally HEIs are seen are as guardians of reason based on the pillars of
creating knowledge through research and disseminating it through their teaching and
publications. However, it can be observed that their purpose has changed somewhat
to a focus on social mobility allowing more people to transform their lives. But
523
2 Sustainability in HEIs: A Brief History
In the last few decades, several initiatives to promote SD in HEIs have emerged,
demonstrating how relevant universities are in driving this initiative forward (Aleixo
et al. 2018). Since the 1970s, there is an increasing international awareness about
the inherent connections there are between HEIs, environmental education and
SD education (Mckeown and Hopkins 2010; Pereira et al. 2014). In the drive
towards understanding these connections, some conferences, declarations and initiatives are highlighted as key milestones. In particular, the Tbilisi Declaration, the
Talloires Declaration and the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable
Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (Berchin et al. 2020).
Generally, environmental education is a term used to address relations between
education and sustainability awareness that should also be implemented in HEIs
operational activities as much as it is in their teaching curricula (i.e., practice what
you teach). This example helps the wider society to become more aware and willing
to participate actively in actions that consider sustainable behavior and thinking
(Zsóka et al. 2013; Dmochowski et al. 2016). To be effective, sustainability must be
implemented in all sectors of HEI operations, i.e., education, research, management,
community engagement, culture and governance (Aleixo et al. 2018). These activities
should be monitored so that greater effort is made to implement them, stimulating
dialogue and participation among all members of the university (Calitz et al. 2018).
Thus, the implementation of initiatives that stimulate environmental awareness and
practical actions contributes to the creation of greening campus processes, improving
academic sustainability and the integration between HEIs’ users and the society
(Ribeiro et al. 2017).
3 Sustainable Development in HEIs: An Overview
HEIs are the places where future leaders are educated (Freidenfelds et al. 2018). As
they have a critical role in promoting research and innovation, they promote experiences, shape behaviors, create and disseminate knowledge—making them drivers of
social changes (Berchin et al. 2018). HEIs are also major employers and economic
actors. For example, if all British HEIs were put together, they would create the fifth
biggest city in the UK. As leaders in sustainability challenges, HEIs can develop technology and raise environmental awareness between students and the wider community (Wadud et al. 2019). HEIs focus on teaching, extension/outreach projects and
research which contributes to the development of greening campus processes and,
consequently, setting a standard for the reduction of waste and energy.
Traditionally HEIs are seen are as guardians of reason based on the pillars of
creating knowledge through research and disseminating it through their teaching and
publications. However, it can be observed that their purpose has changed somewhat
to a focus on social mobility allowing more people to transform their lives. But