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The Role of Universities in Sustainability-Oriented Competencies Development: Insights from an Empirical Study on Polish Universities

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  • Monika Sady

    (Department of International Management, Faculty of Economics and International Relations, Cracow University of Economics, ul. Rakowicka 27, 31-510 Krakow, Poland)

  • Agnieszka Żak

    (Department of International Management, Faculty of Economics and International Relations, Cracow University of Economics, ul. Rakowicka 27, 31-510 Krakow, Poland)

  • Karolina Rzepka

    (Department of International Management, Faculty of Economics and International Relations, Cracow University of Economics, ul. Rakowicka 27, 31-510 Krakow, Poland)

Abstract

The growing importance of sustainable development constitutes a challenging trend for education. Universities create study programs and organize extracurricular activities in order to prepare future generations of professionals as well as political and social leaders for responsible actions toward sustainable development. The main objective of this article is to investigate how universities in Poland develop educational programs and extracurricular activities to enable students to shape sustainability competencies. The study employed a triangulation of research methods including a literature analysis, desk research analysis of the universities’ educational programs, and quantitative research among students. The findings suggest that Polish universities attempt to shape sustainable development-oriented competencies not only through formal sustainable development education, but also via non-formal activities toward social and environmental challenges. The research results have practical implications for universities and can support the advancement of educational programs related to sustainable development.

Suggested Citation

  • Monika Sady & Agnieszka Żak & Karolina Rzepka, 2019. "The Role of Universities in Sustainability-Oriented Competencies Development: Insights from an Empirical Study on Polish Universities," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-20, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jadmsc:v:9:y:2019:i:3:p:62-:d:260227
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. William Horan & Bernadette O’Regan, 2021. "Developing a Practical Framework of Sustainability Indicators Relevant to All Higher Education Institutions to Enable Meaningful International Rankings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-15, January.
    4. Yousef Mubrik N. Almutairi, 2020. "Leadership Self-Efficacy and Organizational Commitment of Faculty Members: Higher Education," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-11, September.
    5. Marzena Smol & Paulina Marcinek & Eugeniusz Koda, 2021. "Drivers and Barriers for a Circular Economy (CE) Implementation in Poland—A Case Study of Raw Materials Recovery Sector," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-19, April.
    6. Jaroslava Kubátová & Ondřej Kročil, 2020. "The Potential of Impact and Integral Investing for Sustainable Social Development and the Role of Academia in Their Dissemination," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-14, August.
    7. Daniela Mihaela Neamþu & Ruxandra Bejinaru & Cristian Valentin Hapenciuc & Iulian Condratov & Pavel Stanciu, 2020. "Analysis and Modelling of Influence Factors in the Configuration of a Sustainable University. Case Study: “?tefan cel Mare” University of Suceava," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 22(54), pages 391-391, April.
    8. Małgorzata Dzimińska & Justyna Fijałkowska & Łukasz Sułkowski, 2020. "A Conceptual Model Proposal: Universities as Culture Change Agents for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-23, June.
    9. Michael Crilly & Chandra Mouli Vemury & Richard Humphrey & Sergio Rodriguez & Tracey Crosbie & Karen Johnson & Alexander Wilson & Oliver Heidrich, 2020. "Common Language of Sustainability for Built Environment Professionals—The Quintuple Helix Model for Higher Education," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-19, November.
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