IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i9p4916-d797410.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Competencies of Sustainability Professionals: An Empirical Study on Key Competencies for Sustainability

Author

Listed:
  • Ronald Venn

    (Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Open Universiteit, 6401 VD Heerlen, The Netherlands)

  • Paquita Perez

    (Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Open Universiteit, 6401 VD Heerlen, The Netherlands)

  • Valerie Vandenbussche

    (Department of Eco-Technology, VIVES University of Applied Sciences, 8200 Brugge, Belgium)

Abstract

This paper presents an empirical study on key competencies for sustainable development. Over a period of two years, we collected empirical data on competencies of senior sustainability professionals by using an action research approach. Data collection took place in Belgium Flanders via an elaborate iterative action-reflection process including an interactive workshop, interviews, and an online survey. Our analysis provides strong empirical evidence for the existence of two complementary competency clusters, namely sustainability research competencies and sustainability intervention competencies. Together they enable the profound analysis and understanding of sustainability issues and ensure the ability to devise solutions and foster change towards sustainability. Furthermore, we shed a first light on the interaction of these competency clusters and their link with the practitioners’ topical knowledge and lived experience. This study bridges the divergence in literature between theoretically and empirically driven research and offers novel insights on sustainability competencies for the fields of sustainability science, human resource management, and higher education.

Suggested Citation

  • Ronald Venn & Paquita Perez & Valerie Vandenbussche, 2022. "Competencies of Sustainability Professionals: An Empirical Study on Key Competencies for Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-22, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:9:p:4916-:d:797410
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/9/4916/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/9/4916/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Pedro Vega-Marcote & Mercedes Varela-Losada & Pedro Álvarez-Suárez, 2015. "Evaluation of an Educational Model Based on the Development of Sustainable Competencies in Basic Teacher Training in Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-20, March.
    2. Barroso-Méndez, María Jesús & Galera-Casquet, Clementina & Seitanidi, Maria May & Valero-Amaro, Víctor, 2016. "Cross-sector social partnership success: A process perspective on the role of relational factors," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 34(6), pages 674-685.
    3. Filippina Risopoulos-Pichler & Fedor Daghofer & Gerald Steiner, 2020. "Competences for Solving Complex Problems: A Cross-Sectional Survey on Higher Education for Sustainability Learning and Transdisciplinarity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-15, July.
    4. Jana Dlouhá & Raquel Heras & Ingrid Mulà & Francisca Perez Salgado & Laura Henderson, 2019. "Competences to Address SDGs in Higher Education—A Reflection on the Equilibrium between Systemic and Personal Approaches to Achieve Transformative Action," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-23, July.
    5. Lindsey MacDonald & Mike Shriberg, 2016. "Sustainability leadership programs in higher education: alumni outcomes and impacts," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 6(2), pages 360-370, June.
    6. Helen Lee Curtis & Lucas Catalani Gabriel & Marlyne Sahakian & Sandro Cattacin, 2021. "Practice-Based Program Evaluation in Higher Education for Sustainability: A Student Participatory Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-14, September.
    7. Minna Halme & Sara Lindeman & Paula Linna, 2012. "Innovation for Inclusive Business: Intrapreneurial Bricolage in Multinational Corporations," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(4), pages 743-784, June.
    8. Michael Gibbert & Winfried Ruigrok & Barbara Wicki, 2008. "What passes as a rigorous case study?," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(13), pages 1465-1474, December.
    9. Maria May Seitanidi, 2010. "The Politics of Partnerships," Springer Books, Springer, number 978-90-481-8547-4, December.
    10. Petra C. M. Neessen & Marjolein C. J. Caniëls & Bart Vos & Jeroen P. Jong, 2019. "The intrapreneurial employee: toward an integrated model of intrapreneurship and research agenda," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 545-571, June.
    11. Bart Nooteboom, 2000. "Learning by Interaction: Absorptive Capacity, Cognitive Distance and Governance," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 4(1), pages 69-92, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Shengyang Qin & Xinxing Duan & Ahmad Fatehallah Al-hourani & Naif Alsaadi, 2022. "Evaluation of Total Quality Management in Turkish Pharmaceutical Companies: A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-20, August.
    2. Göran Finnveden & André Schneider, 2023. "Sustainable Development in Higher Education—What Sustainability Skills Do Industry Need?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-7, February.
    3. Wenyuan Liu & Min Yang, 2023. "Construction of Input-Comparison-Output (ICO) Intercultural Mode for Sustainable Development in EFL Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-13, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kifah Imara & Fahriye Altinay, 2021. "Integrating Education for Sustainable Development Competencies in Teacher Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-17, November.
    2. Arantza Rico & Elena Agirre-Basurko & Aritz Ruiz-González & Igone Palacios-Agundez & Daniel Zuazagoitia, 2021. "Integrating Mathematics and Science Teaching in the Context of Education for Sustainable Development: Design and Pilot Implementation of a Teaching-Learning Sequence about Air Quality with Pre-Service," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-21, April.
    3. Jana Dlouhá & Raquel Heras & Ingrid Mulà & Francisca Perez Salgado & Laura Henderson, 2019. "Competences to Address SDGs in Higher Education—A Reflection on the Equilibrium between Systemic and Personal Approaches to Achieve Transformative Action," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-23, July.
    4. Winterhalter, Stephan & Zeschky, Marco B. & Neumann, Lukas & Gassmann, Oliver, 2017. "Business Models for Frugal Innovation in Emerging Markets: The Case of the Medical Device and Laboratory Equipment Industry," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 66, pages 3-13.
    5. María Jesús Barroso-Méndez & Clementina Galera-Casquet & Víctor Valero-Amaro & María Teresa Nevado-Gil, 2019. "Antecedents of Relationship Learning in Business-Non-Profit Organization Collaboration Agreements," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-19, December.
    6. Lepore, Dominique & Frontoni, Emanuele & Micozzi, Alessandra & Moccia, Sara & Romeo, Luca & Spigarelli, Francesca, 2023. "Uncovering the potential of innovation ecosystems in the healthcare sector after the COVID-19 crisis," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 80-86.
    7. Kim, Serena Y., 2020. "Institutional arrangements and airport solar PV," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    8. Rocío Valderrama-Hernández & Fermín Sánchez-Carracedo & Lucía Alcántara Rubio & Dolores Limón-Domínguez, 2019. "Methodology to Analyze the Effectiveness of ESD in a Higher Degree in Education. A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-27, December.
    9. Camelia Ilie & Gaston Fornes & Guillermo Cardoza & Juan Carlos Mondragón Quintana, 2020. "Development of Business Schools in Emerging Markets: Learning through Adoption and Adaptation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-28, October.
    10. Schout, Henk J. & Harkema, Saskia J.M., 2012. "Green Networks: Innovative Capacity Of Smes In The Dutch Greenhouse Horticulture Industry," APSTRACT: Applied Studies in Agribusiness and Commerce, AGRIMBA, vol. 6(1-2), pages 1-8, September.
    11. Liu, Yipeng & Meyer, Klaus E., 2020. "Boundary spanners, HRM practices, and reverse knowledge transfer: The case of Chinese cross-border acquisitions," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 55(2).
    12. Fiona Kun Yao & Kaifeng Jiang & Danielle R. Combs & Song Chang, 2022. "Informal institutions and absorptive capacity: A cross-country meta-analytic study," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(6), pages 1091-1109, August.
    13. Alexander Martín-Garin & José Antonio Millán-García & Iñigo Leon & Xabat Oregi & Julian Estevez & Cristina Marieta, 2021. "Pedagogical Approaches for Sustainable Development in Building in Higher Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-22, September.
    14. Lydia Bals & Jon F. Kirchoff & Kai Foerstl, 2016. "Exploring the reshoring and insourcing decision making process: toward an agenda for future research," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 9(3), pages 102-116, December.
    15. Mario Pansera & Fabien Martinez, 2017. "Innovation for development and poverty reduction: an integrative literature review," Post-Print hal-02887777, HAL.
    16. Barmeyer, Christoph & Davoine, Eric, 2019. "Facilitating intercultural negotiated practices in joint ventures: The case of a French–German railway organization," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(1), pages 1-11.
    17. Christina Theodoraki & Alexis Catanzaro, 2022. "Widening the borders of entrepreneurial ecosystem through the international lens," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 47(2), pages 383-406, April.
    18. Ryan M. Hynes & Bernardo S. Buarque & Ronald B. Davies & Dieter F. Kogler, 2020. "Hops, Skip & a Jump - The Regional Uniqueness of Beer Styles," Working Papers 202013, Geary Institute, University College Dublin.
    19. Jorge Coque & Pilar L. González-Torre, 2017. "Adapting Nonprofit Resources to New Social Demands: The Food Banks in Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-16, April.
    20. Kaihuang Zhang & Qinglan Qian & Yijing Zhao, 2020. "Evolution of Guangzhou Biomedical Industry Innovation Network Structure and Its Proximity Mechanism," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-20, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:9:p:4916-:d:797410. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.