IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v12y2020i18p7384-d410851.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Sustainable Development in the Economic, Environmental, and Social Fields of Ecuadorian Universities

Author

Listed:
  • Javier Alejandro Bermeo Pacheco

    (Faculty of Business Administration, Universidad Técnica de Machala, Machala 170517, Ecuador)

  • María Mercedes Teijeiro-Álvarez

    (Faculty of Economics, University of A Coruna, 15008 A Coruna, Spain)

  • María Teresa García-Álvarez

    (Faculty of Economics, University of A Coruna, 15008 A Coruna, Spain)

Abstract

This article considers universities as an important element to increase productivity and competitiveness, where sustainable development (SD) is a cornerstone aspect for their development because it promotes effective communication mechanisms. The aim of this research is to evaluate the management of category A and B universities in Ecuador, through the contents of their accountability reports. The method to be used is bibliographic, exploratory, analytical, and experimental, considering the indicators of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). The results show a lack of commitment from the analyzed higher education institutions when preparing accountability reports in terms of sustainability criteria. Additionally, the category in which each university is placed does not guarantee effective disclosure of information to the point that some category B universities have a higher percentage of revealed data than their A category peers. Similarly, the results also suggest proposing plans of action for policymakers to create standards for socially responsible annual reports to respond to the “triple bottom line” criteria approach, as well as establishing guidelines for the correct dissemination and disclosure of information. The originality of this work lies in analyzing the social responsibility practices in Ecuadorian universities by applying GRI indicators.

Suggested Citation

  • Javier Alejandro Bermeo Pacheco & María Mercedes Teijeiro-Álvarez & María Teresa García-Álvarez, 2020. "Sustainable Development in the Economic, Environmental, and Social Fields of Ecuadorian Universities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-21, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:18:p:7384-:d:410851
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/18/7384/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/18/7384/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sara Giovanna Mauro & Lino Cinquini & Elena Simonini & Andrea Tenucci, 2020. "Moving from Social and Sustainability Reporting to Integrated Reporting: Exploring the Potential of Italian Public-Funded Universities’ Reports," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-19, April.
    2. Amelia Bilbao-Terol & Mar Arenas-Parra & Verónica Cañal-Fernández & Pablo Nguema Obam-Eyang, 2018. "Multi-criteria analysis of the GRI sustainability reports: an application to Socially Responsible Investment," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 69(10), pages 1576-1598, October.
    3. Bill Hopwood & Mary Mellor & Geoff O'Brien, 2005. "Sustainable development: mapping different approaches," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 13(1), pages 38-52.
    4. Annina Lattu & Yuzhuo Cai, 2020. "Tensions in the Sustainability of Higher Education—The Case of Finnish Universities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-15, March.
    5. Bilbao-Terol, Amelia & Álvarez-Otero, Susana & Bilbao-Terol, Celia & Cañal-Fernández, Verónica, 2017. "Hedonic evaluation of the SRI label of mutual funds using matching methodology," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 213-227.
    6. Simona Șimon & Claudia E. Stoian & Vasile Gherheș, 2020. "The Concept of Sustainability in the Romanian Top Universities’ Strategic Plans," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-22, April.
    7. Yong-Ming He & Yu-Long Pei & Bin Ran & Jia Kang & Yu-Ting Song, 2020. "Analysis on the Higher Education Sustainability in China Based on the Comparison between Universities in China and America," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-19, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Jacqueline Bailão da Silva Lopes & Thiago Almeida Vieira, 2021. "Sustainable University: From the Worldwide Conception to the Brazilian Amazonia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-31, September.
    2. Endl, Andreas & Tost, Michael & Hitch, Michael & Moser, Peter & Feiel, Susanne, 2021. "Europe's mining innovation trends and their contribution to the sustainable development goals: Blind spots and strong points," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    3. Yu Wang & Shanyong Wang & Jing Wang & Jiuchang Wei & Chenglin Wang, 2020. "An empirical study of consumers’ intention to use ride-sharing services: using an extended technology acceptance model," Transportation, Springer, vol. 47(1), pages 397-415, February.
    4. Espinoza-Tenorio, Alejandro & Espejel, Ileana & Wolff, Matthias, 2015. "From adoption to implementation? An academic perspective on Sustainable Fisheries Management in a developing country," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 252-260.
    5. Erwin Van Tuijl & Leo Van den Berg, 2016. "Annual City Festivals as Tools for Sustainable Competitiveness: The World Port Days Rotterdam," Economies, MDPI, vol. 4(2), pages 1-13, May.
    6. Chen, Shih-Chih & Hung, Chung-Wen, 2016. "Elucidating the factors influencing the acceptance of green products: An extension of theory of planned behavior," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 155-163.
    7. Mario Pansera & Fabien Martinez, 2017. "Innovation for development and poverty reduction: an integrative literature review," Post-Print hal-02887777, HAL.
    8. Dawid Szostek, 2019. "The Impact of the Quality of Interpersonal Relationships between Employees on Counterproductive Work Behavior: A Study of Employees in Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-33, October.
    9. Hametner, Markus, 2022. "Economics without ecology: How the SDGs fail to align socioeconomic development with environmental sustainability," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    10. Eunji Oh & M. Minsuk Shin, 2020. "Study Abroad in Support of Higher Education Sustainability: An Application of Service Trade Strategies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-23, March.
    11. Shaikha R. Al-Nuaimi & Sami G. Al-Ghamdi, 2022. "Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards Sustainability Aspects among Higher Education Students in Qatar," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-17, October.
    12. Alpaslan Kelleci & Oğuz Yıldız, 2021. "A Guiding Framework for Levels of Sustainability in Marketing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-14, February.
    13. Walter J.V. Vermeulen, 2015. "Self‐Governance for Sustainable Global Supply Chains: Can it Deliver the Impacts Needed?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(2), pages 73-85, February.
    14. Chiara Mio & Silvia Panfilo & Benedetta Blundo, 2020. "Sustainable development goals and the strategic role of business: A systematic literature review," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(8), pages 3220-3245, December.
    15. Xin Huang & Xianling Jiang & Wei Liu & Qian Chen, 2021. "Business Group-Affiliation and Corporate Social Responsibility: Evidence from Listed Companies in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-21, February.
    16. Sara Sousa, 2021. "Environmental Taxation in Portugal: A Contribution to Sustainability," Eurasian Studies in Business and Economics, in: Mehmet Huseyin Bilgin & Hakan Danis & Ender Demir & Sofia Vale (ed.), Eurasian Economic Perspectives, pages 369-382, Springer.
    17. Michelle M. Olivier & Benjamin P. Wilson & Jonathon L. Howard, 2016. "Measuring Localisation Regionally to Form a Bhutanese Index," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(7), pages 1-19, July.
    18. Isabela Avallone & Janaina Giraldi & Sonia Oliveira, 2012. "Conscious Consumption: a Study on Plastic Bags' Consumers in Brazil," International Journal of Psychological Studies, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 4(1), pages 122-122, March.
    19. Witold Chmielarz & Marek Zborowski, 2022. "On the Assessment of e-Banking Websites Supporting Sustainable Development Goals," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-20, January.
    20. Jari Lyytimäki & Ulla Rosenström, 2008. "Skeletons out of the closet: effectiveness of conceptual frameworks for communicating sustainable development indicators," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 16(5), pages 301-313.

    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:12:y:2020:i:18:p:7384-:d:410851. 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.