Odd Couples: Reconciling Academic and Operational Cultures for Whole-Institution Sustainability Governance at Universities
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| Title: | Odd Couples: Reconciling Academic and Operational Cultures for Whole-Institution Sustainability Governance at Universities |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Robinson, John, Alhakim, Andi Darell, Ma, Grace, Alam, Monisha, Brando, Fernanda da Rocha, Braune, Manfr, Brown, Michelle, Côté, Nicolas, Espinosa, Denise Crocce Romano, Garza, Ana Karen, Gorman, David, Hajer, Maarten, Madden, John, Melnick, Rob, Metras, John, Newman, Julie, Patel, Rutu, Raven, Rob, Sergienko, Kenneth, Smith, Victoria, Tariq, Hoor, van der Lem, Lysanne, Wong, Christina Nga Jing, Wiek, Arnim |
| Source: | International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 2023 24(8):1950-1970. |
| Availability: | Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 21 |
| Publication Date: | 2023 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Sustainability, Governance, Barriers, Universities, Power Structure, Foreign Countries, Organizational Culture |
| Geographic Terms: | United Kingdom (Scotland), Netherlands, Massachusetts, Arizona, Hong Kong, Brazil, Australia, South Africa (Cape Town), Canada |
| DOI: | 10.1108/IJSHE-07-2022-0244 |
| ISSN: | 1467-6370 1758-6739 |
| Abstract: | Purpose: This study aims to explore barriers and pathways to a whole-institution governance of sustainability within the working structures of universities. Design/methodology/approach: This paper draws on multi-year interviews and hierarchical structure analysis of ten universities in Canada, the USA, Australia, Hong Kong, South Africa, Brazil, the UK and The Netherlands. The paper addresses existing literature that championed further integration between the two organizational sides of universities (academic and operations) and suggests approaches for better embedding sustainability into four primary domains of activity (education, research, campus operations and community engagement). Findings: This research found that effective sustainability governance needs to recognise and reconcile distinct cultures, diverging accountability structures and contrasting manifestations of central-coordination and distributed-agency approaches characteristic of the university's operational and academic activities. The positionality of actors appointed to lead institution-wide embedding influenced which domain received most attention. The paper concludes that a whole-institution approach would require significant tailoring and adjustments on both the operational and academic sides to be successful. Originality/value: Based on a review of sustainability activities at ten universities around the world, this paper provides a detailed analysis of the governance implications of integrating sustainability into the four domains of university activity. It discusses how best to work across the operational/academic divide and suggests principles for adopting a whole institution approach to sustainability. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2023 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1401694 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Purpose: This study aims to explore barriers and pathways to a whole-institution governance of sustainability within the working structures of universities. Design/methodology/approach: This paper draws on multi-year interviews and hierarchical structure analysis of ten universities in Canada, the USA, Australia, Hong Kong, South Africa, Brazil, the UK and The Netherlands. The paper addresses existing literature that championed further integration between the two organizational sides of universities (academic and operations) and suggests approaches for better embedding sustainability into four primary domains of activity (education, research, campus operations and community engagement). Findings: This research found that effective sustainability governance needs to recognise and reconcile distinct cultures, diverging accountability structures and contrasting manifestations of central-coordination and distributed-agency approaches characteristic of the university's operational and academic activities. The positionality of actors appointed to lead institution-wide embedding influenced which domain received most attention. The paper concludes that a whole-institution approach would require significant tailoring and adjustments on both the operational and academic sides to be successful. Originality/value: Based on a review of sustainability activities at ten universities around the world, this paper provides a detailed analysis of the governance implications of integrating sustainability into the four domains of university activity. It discusses how best to work across the operational/academic divide and suggests principles for adopting a whole institution approach to sustainability. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1467-6370 1758-6739 |
| DOI: | 10.1108/IJSHE-07-2022-0244 |
