Publicação
Integration, monitoring, and assessment of sustainability in higher education institutions
| Resumo: | Since the onset of the environmental crisis, global education systems have been tasked with devising alternatives that align more effectively with ecological limits. Consequently, Higher Education Institutions (HEI) worldwide have assumed leadership roles to inspire and expedite societal transformation. They have integrated sustainable development initiatives (SDI) into their strategies, systems, processes, and routines while participating in networks of sustainable HEI. However, this continuous process encounters notable challenges and barriers. The government has instituted intricate regulations in Brazil to guide public institutions in standardising their integration. Brazilian federal public HEI have grappled with meeting these legal requirements. In light of this context, this PhD research aims to establish a comprehensive framework supporting action plans for integrating, monitoring, assessing, and reporting sustainability in Brazilian federal public HEI. The framework, rooted in a complex adaptive system and a deductive approach to modelling a solution, was validated through a typical case study— the Federal University of Paraíba. The cross-sectional study utilised a mixed-method approach, encompassing a literature critical review, interviews, desk research, and direct observation to gather data. Strategies for analysing the collected data included a systematic literature review, content analysis, descriptive statistics, and process and mathematical modelling. This investigation contributes significantly to existing literature, providing a comprehensive and critical assessment of HEI commitments to SDI, along with the models and tools used for fulfilment and efficacy evaluation. Broadly, the study offers valuable insights into the practical implementation of a holistic approach to integrating SDI within HEI. Furthermore, it proposes a systematic methodology, the Framework to Integrate, Monitor, Assess, and Report Sustainability in HEI (FIMARSHEI), designed to aid Brazilian federal public HEI in effectively integrating SDI into their policies and practices. Beyond the specific case study, the significance of this work lies in the adaptability and expansiveness of the proposed framework, applicable to various institution types. Thus, this research makes meaningful contributions to the scientific community by providing insights on developing and implementing a comprehensive approach to incorporating SDI in diverse educational settings. |
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| Autores principais: | Vasconcelos, Claudio Ruy Portela de |
| Assunto: | Brazil Higher education institutions sustainability Holistic approach to sustainability Sustainability assessment Sustainable development integration Abordagem holística para a sustentabilidade Avaliação da sustentabilidade Brasil Integração do desenvolvimento sustentável Sustentabilidade de instituições de educação superior |
| Ano: | 2024 |
| País: | Portugal |
| Tipo de documento: | tese de doutoramento |
| Tipo de acesso: | acesso aberto |
| Instituição associada: | Universidade do Minho |
| Idioma: | inglês |
| Origem: | RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho |
| Resumo: | Since the onset of the environmental crisis, global education systems have been tasked with devising alternatives that align more effectively with ecological limits. Consequently, Higher Education Institutions (HEI) worldwide have assumed leadership roles to inspire and expedite societal transformation. They have integrated sustainable development initiatives (SDI) into their strategies, systems, processes, and routines while participating in networks of sustainable HEI. However, this continuous process encounters notable challenges and barriers. The government has instituted intricate regulations in Brazil to guide public institutions in standardising their integration. Brazilian federal public HEI have grappled with meeting these legal requirements. In light of this context, this PhD research aims to establish a comprehensive framework supporting action plans for integrating, monitoring, assessing, and reporting sustainability in Brazilian federal public HEI. The framework, rooted in a complex adaptive system and a deductive approach to modelling a solution, was validated through a typical case study— the Federal University of Paraíba. The cross-sectional study utilised a mixed-method approach, encompassing a literature critical review, interviews, desk research, and direct observation to gather data. Strategies for analysing the collected data included a systematic literature review, content analysis, descriptive statistics, and process and mathematical modelling. This investigation contributes significantly to existing literature, providing a comprehensive and critical assessment of HEI commitments to SDI, along with the models and tools used for fulfilment and efficacy evaluation. Broadly, the study offers valuable insights into the practical implementation of a holistic approach to integrating SDI within HEI. Furthermore, it proposes a systematic methodology, the Framework to Integrate, Monitor, Assess, and Report Sustainability in HEI (FIMARSHEI), designed to aid Brazilian federal public HEI in effectively integrating SDI into their policies and practices. Beyond the specific case study, the significance of this work lies in the adaptability and expansiveness of the proposed framework, applicable to various institution types. Thus, this research makes meaningful contributions to the scientific community by providing insights on developing and implementing a comprehensive approach to incorporating SDI in diverse educational settings. |
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