View in EDS

Are Universities Engaging in Social Washing? Rethinking the Presentation of University Sustainability Reports

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Are Universities Engaging in Social Washing? Rethinking the Presentation of University Sustainability Reports
Language: English
Authors: Yi-Chih Lee
Source: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 2026 27(2):303-321.
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: 19
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Private Colleges, Sustainability, Disclosure, Reports, Deception, Social Responsibility, Foreign Countries, College Faculty, Teacher Salaries, Teaching Load, Part Time Faculty
Geographic Terms: Taiwan
DOI: 10.1108/IJSHE-08-2024-0533
ISSN: 1467-6370
1758-6739
Abstract: Purpose: The social dimension of sustainable development has garnered increasing attention. As universities embrace their social responsibility and consider the interests of various stakeholders, the potential issue of social washing has emerged as a critical topic. This study aims to investigate the presence of social washing in university sustainability reports. Design/methodology/approach: The study examines three key stakeholder elements: full-time faculty salaries, weekly teaching hours for full-time faculty and hourly wages for part-time faculty. A content analysis was conducted on the 2022 sustainability reports published by all private universities registered in Taiwan. Findings: Results indicate that only 30% of private universities published independent sustainability reports for 2022, and of those, only 62.5% adhered to global reporting initiative guidelines. The study raises concerns about selective disclosure and the concealment of negative information, suggesting the possibility of social washing. This investigation offers an overview of social washing in the sustainability reports of higher education institutions, thereby contributing to the academic discourse on comprehensive and transparent communication with stakeholders. Social implications: Universities should take into account the interests of stakeholders and embrace greater social responsibility in their sustainability initiatives. This study analyzes the content of university sustainability reports and encourages higher education institutions to foster balanced communication with their stakeholders. Originality/value: Social washing is difficult to detect. This study uses objective indicators to assist higher education institutions in identifying potential social washing behaviors and provides guidance for universities to avoid misleading communication in their sustainability reports.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1503376
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1503376
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Are Universities Engaging in Social Washing? Rethinking the Presentation of University Sustainability Reports
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yi-Chih+Lee%22">Yi-Chih Lee</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22International+Journal+of+Sustainability+in+Higher+Education%22"><i>International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 27(2):303-321.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: 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
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 19
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Private+Colleges%22">Private Colleges</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sustainability%22">Sustainability</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Disclosure%22">Disclosure</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Reports%22">Reports</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Deception%22">Deception</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Responsibility%22">Social Responsibility</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Faculty%22">College Faculty</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Salaries%22">Teacher Salaries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teaching+Load%22">Teaching Load</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Part+Time+Faculty%22">Part Time Faculty</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Taiwan%22">Taiwan</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1108/IJSHE-08-2024-0533
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 1467-6370<br />1758-6739
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Purpose: The social dimension of sustainable development has garnered increasing attention. As universities embrace their social responsibility and consider the interests of various stakeholders, the potential issue of social washing has emerged as a critical topic. This study aims to investigate the presence of social washing in university sustainability reports. Design/methodology/approach: The study examines three key stakeholder elements: full-time faculty salaries, weekly teaching hours for full-time faculty and hourly wages for part-time faculty. A content analysis was conducted on the 2022 sustainability reports published by all private universities registered in Taiwan. Findings: Results indicate that only 30% of private universities published independent sustainability reports for 2022, and of those, only 62.5% adhered to global reporting initiative guidelines. The study raises concerns about selective disclosure and the concealment of negative information, suggesting the possibility of social washing. This investigation offers an overview of social washing in the sustainability reports of higher education institutions, thereby contributing to the academic discourse on comprehensive and transparent communication with stakeholders. Social implications: Universities should take into account the interests of stakeholders and embrace greater social responsibility in their sustainability initiatives. This study analyzes the content of university sustainability reports and encourages higher education institutions to foster balanced communication with their stakeholders. Originality/value: Social washing is difficult to detect. This study uses objective indicators to assist higher education institutions in identifying potential social washing behaviors and provides guidance for universities to avoid misleading communication in their sustainability reports.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1503376
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1503376
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1108/IJSHE-08-2024-0533
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 19
        StartPage: 303
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Private Colleges
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sustainability
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Disclosure
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Reports
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Deception
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social Responsibility
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Faculty
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teacher Salaries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teaching Load
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Part Time Faculty
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Taiwan
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Are Universities Engaging in Social Washing? Rethinking the Presentation of University Sustainability Reports
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Yi-Chih Lee
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 1467-6370
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 1758-6739
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 27
            – Type: issue
              Value: 2
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education
              Type: main
ResultId 1