Institutions of higher educations (IHE), particularly universities, have a significant role to play in the global transformation to socio-ecological sustainability. This study focuses on the strategic planning efforts of one university, the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand where The Natural Step Framework (TNSF) is being used to develop a pan-University Sustainability Plan. Drawing upon the triple helix model of university-government-industry interactions for knowledge creation, and integrating principles of education for sustainable development into strategic organizational learning and change processes within higher education, this study suggests that advocates for sustainability within IHE can use the TNSF to assess institutional barriers and communicate specific opportunities in order to institutionalize strategic sustainable development and promote socio-ecological innovation.
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Author: Mandy Tew
Source: Blekinge Institute of Technology
Contents
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 PROJECT BACKGROUND
1.2 AIM AND SCOPE
1.2 LIMITATIONS
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1.4 LAYOUT OF THE PAPER
2 THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL FRAME FOR THE STUDY
2.1 METHODS
2.2 FRAMEWORK OF EVALUATION—TNS FRAMEWORK
2.2.1 Sustainability Principles
2.2.2 The Five-level Model
2.2.3 The ABCD Method
2.2.4 Questionnaire
3 LITERATURE REVIEW
3.1 LEVEL 1—SYSTEM: CURRENT CONTEXT OF HE
3.2 LEVEL 2—DEFINING AND ENVISIONING SUCCESS
3.3 LEVEL 3—STRATEGY: CHANGING THE CONTEXT OF EDUCATION
3.3.1 Principles of Education for Sustainability
3.3.2 Organizational Conditions in IHE Effecting Sustainability
3.4 LEVELS 3 / 4—ACTIONS / TOOLS FOR STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT IN IHE
3.5 CONCLUSION
4 UNIVERSITY OF CANTERBURY—CASE STUDY
4.1 SUSTAINABILITY HISTORY AND DOCUMENT REVIEW
4.1.1 Context—New Zealand National Strategy for Sustainability
4.1.2 Tertiary Education
4.1.3 Institutional Charters and Profiles
4.1.4 Strategy—University of Canterbury
4.1.5 Pilot Project & Partnerships: TNS NZ, MacPac and UC
4.1.6 Planning University-Wide Sustainability Initiatives
4.2 EVALUATION RESULTS
4.2.1 Current Organizational Conditions
4.2.2 Questionnaire Responses
4.2.3 UC pan-University Draft Sustainability Plan Evaluation
4.3 DISCUSSION: POTENTIAL FOR LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT
5 COLLEAGUES IN SUSTAINABILITY
5.1 UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY, CANADA—SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE
5.1.1 Organizational Conditions
5.1.2 Sustainability Initiative Evaluation
5.2 OTHER INDIVIDUAL INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION
5.3 NETWORKS AND RESOURCES FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION
6 CONCLUSIONS AND DISCUSSION
6.1 REVISITING THE RESEARCH QUESTIONS
6.2 LIMITATIONS AND IMPLICATIONS
6.3 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY
REFERENCES
APPENDIX A: DRAFT PAN-UNIVERSITY SUSTAINABILITY PLAN
APPENDIX B: QUESTIONNAIRE FOR UC PILOT PROJECT PARTICIPANTS