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Interdependencies of Culture and Functions of Sustainability Governance at Higher Education Institutions

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  • Mara Bauer

    (Department of Education, Faculty of Education and Social Sciences, University of Vechta, Driverstraße 22, 49377 Vechta, Germany)

  • Sebastian Niedlich

    (Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, Habelschwerdter Allee 45, 14195 Berlin, Germany)

  • Marco Rieckmann

    (Department of Education, Faculty of Education and Social Sciences, University of Vechta, Driverstraße 22, 49377 Vechta, Germany)

  • Inka Bormann

    (Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, Habelschwerdter Allee 45, 14195 Berlin, Germany)

  • Larissa Jaeger

    (Department of Education, Faculty of Education and Social Sciences, University of Vechta, Driverstraße 22, 49377 Vechta, Germany)

Abstract

Sustainable development practices in higher education institutions are diverse, with regard not only to the types of challenges that have to be addressed, but also to the forms of sustainability governance adopted by individual higher education institutions. This paper aims to reflect on the aspects of organizational culture that are particularly crucial for the implementation of sustainable practices at higher education institutions. Specifically, it addresses the research question: how do different organizational cultures affect approaches to sustainability governance at higher education institutions (HEIs)? It reflects on data from multi-case studies at eleven German higher education institutions. Four of the cases are analyzed in this paper to draw out the insights they offer on how organizational culture shapes the institutions’ approach to sustainable development. A governance equalizer is used as a functional framework for evaluating and discussing the influence of different cultural orientations on sustainability governance. In addition to providing many insights and findings in relation to specific cases, comparison of the different institutions, their governance structures and their cultures of sustainable development helps to emphasize that there is no single cultural factor that can be identified as directly promoting particular governance structures. Rather, there is an active interplay between cultural orientations, which influence, and are also influenced by, the measures deployed. Such influence is not instantly apparent but needs time to develop, and it evolves in a variety of ways as illustrated by the case studies.

Suggested Citation

  • Mara Bauer & Sebastian Niedlich & Marco Rieckmann & Inka Bormann & Larissa Jaeger, 2020. "Interdependencies of Culture and Functions of Sustainability Governance at Higher Education Institutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-21, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:7:p:2780-:d:339973
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    1. Bankole Osita Awuzie & Amal Abuzeinab, 2019. "Modelling Organisational Factors Influencing Sustainable Development Implementation Performance in Higher Education Institutions: An Interpretative Structural Modelling (ISM) Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(16), pages 1-18, August.
    2. Mandy Singer-Brodowski & Nadine Etzkorn & Janne Von Seggern, 2019. "One Transformation Path Does Not Fit All—Insights into the Diffusion Processes of Education for Sustainable Development in Different Educational Areas in Germany," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-17, January.
    3. Gregory Trencher & Masaru Yarime & Kes B. McCormick & Christopher N. H. Doll & Steven B. Kraines, 2014. "Beyond the third mission: Exploring the emerging university function of co-creation for sustainability," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 41(2), pages 151-179.
    4. Kerstin Schopp & Matthias Bornemann & Thomas Potthast, 2020. "The Whole-Institution Approach at the University of Tübingen: Sustainable Development Set in Practice," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-24, January.
    5. Sebastian Niedlich & Mara Bauer & Margarita Doneliene & Larissa Jaeger & Marco Rieckmann & Inka Bormann, 2020. "Assessment of Sustainability Governance in Higher Education Institutions—A Systemic Tool Using a Governance Equalizer," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-17, February.
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