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University Teachers’ Conceptions of the University and the Place of Sustainability

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  • Elisa Chaleta

    (Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, University of Évora, 7000-803 Évora, Portugal
    CIEP—Center for Research in Education and Psychology, University of Évora, 7000-803 Évora, Portugal)

  • Margarida Saraiva

    (Management Department, School of Social Sciences, University of Évora, 7000-803 Évora, Portugal
    BRU-UNIDE/ISCTE-IUL, 1649-026 Lisboa, Portugal)

  • Luís Sebastião

    (CIEP—Center for Research in Education and Psychology, University of Évora, 7000-803 Évora, Portugal
    Department of Pedagogy and Education, School of Social Sciences, University of Évora, 7000-803 Évora, Portugal)

  • Marília Cid

    (CIEP—Center for Research in Education and Psychology, University of Évora, 7000-803 Évora, Portugal
    Department of Pedagogy and Education, School of Social Sciences, University of Évora, 7000-803 Évora, Portugal)

  • António M. Diniz

    (Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, University of Évora, 7000-803 Évora, Portugal
    CIEP—Center for Research in Education and Psychology, University of Évora, 7000-803 Évora, Portugal)

  • Fátima Leal

    (CIEP—Center for Research in Education and Psychology, University of Évora, 7000-803 Évora, Portugal)

  • Paulo Quaresma

    (Department of Informatics, School of School of Sciences and Technology, University of Évora, 7000-803 Évora, Portugal
    NOVALINCS—NOVA Laboratory for Computer Science and Informatics, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal)

  • Luís Rato

    (Department of Informatics, School of School of Sciences and Technology, University of Évora, 7000-803 Évora, Portugal
    CIMA—Center for Research in Mathematics and Applications, Universidade of Évora, 7000-803 Évora, Portugal)

Abstract

In this phenomenographic qualitative research, the aim is to learn about the conceptions of university professors about the university. The study was carried out with 20 university professors: 10 from the School of Social Sciences and 10 from the School of Science and Technology of University of Évora with an average age of 54 years and over 20 years of professional activity. The data were collected through open questionnaires and then submitted to thematic and categorical content analysis. The conceptions of the university appear, in the voice of the teachers, centered on two main aspects. The first and more mentioned concerns the conception of the university as a space of production and diffusion of scientific knowledge, which refers to quality factors of higher education. The second brings out the conception of the university as a space of relationship with society together with underlying concerns for human development, cooperation, and the design of a more sustainable world.

Suggested Citation

  • Elisa Chaleta & Margarida Saraiva & Luís Sebastião & Marília Cid & António M. Diniz & Fátima Leal & Paulo Quaresma & Luís Rato, 2021. "University Teachers’ Conceptions of the University and the Place of Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-10, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:4:p:1955-:d:497826
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Thomas P. Seager, 2008. "The sustainability spectrum and the sciences of sustainability," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 17(7), pages 444-453, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Eliana Villa-Enciso & Walter Ruiz-Castañeda & Jorge Robledo Velásquez, 2023. "Agent-Based Model to Analyze the Role of the University in Reducing Social Exclusion," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-29, August.

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