IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v12y2020i9p3761-d354405.html

Sustainability Leadership in Higher Education Institutions: An Overview of Challenges

Author

Listed:
  • Walter Leal Filho

    (European School of Sustainability Science and Research, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, 20099 Hamburg, Germany)

  • João Henrique Paulino Pires Eustachio

    (School of Economics, Business Administration and Accounting at Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14040-905, Brazil)

  • Adriana Cristina Ferreira Caldana

    (School of Economics, Business Administration and Accounting at Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14040-905, Brazil)

  • Markus Will

    (Faculty Natural Sciences and Environmental Sciences, Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, 02763 Zittau, Germany)

  • Amanda Lange Salvia

    (European School of Sustainability Science and Research, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, 20099 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Izabela S. Rampasso

    (Department of Manufacturing Engineering and Materials, State University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-970, Brazil)

  • Rosley Anholon

    (Department of Manufacturing Engineering and Materials, State University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-970, Brazil)

  • Johannes Platje

    (Faculty of Finance and Management, WSB University in Wroclaw, 53-609 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Marina Kovaleva

    (European School of Sustainability Science and Research, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, 20099 Hamburg, Germany)

Abstract

Sustainability leadership entails the processes, which leaders, policymakers, and academics undertake in order to implement sustainable development policies and other initiatives within their organizations. It encompasses approaches, methods, and systemic solutions to solve problems and drive institutional policy towards a more sustainable organization. Higher Education Institutions (HEI) play a particularly important role, especially with regard to their institutional leadership role in promoting sustainable development. There is a paucity of research focusing on sustainability leadership in universities. In order to address this gap, this paper discussed the concept of sustainability leadership based on literature and empirical insights. The study aimed to understand the main characteristics of sustainability leaders at HEI and the main challenges they are confronted with. Secondary research questions involved gender issues and positive outcomes of sustainability leadership. The empirical component of the study consisted of an online-questionnaire survey performed among leaders (n = 50) from a set of universities in 29 countries. The sampling scheme was purposive, based on the membership in the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Program (IUSDRP). The study was explorative in nature, and the descriptive statistics were used for the analysis. Due to the purposive sampling, the participants from top management positions could be considered as experienced, and their views were assumed to be information-rich. With a self-evaluation, the respondents described their leadership style and their usual traits, with inclusive style and systemic thinking being predominant in the sample. Regarding the skills, the respondents selected the ability to innovate, to think long-term, and to manage complexity from a pre-defined set of options. Connectedness with interdisciplinarity and knowledge about organizational settings, as well as global challenges and dilemmas, were stated as important issues related to the knowledge required for being a leader. Regarding requirements for a change towards more sustainable universities’ curriculum adaptation, investments in education for sustainable development (ESD), sustainable procurement, and reporting were mentioned. The study also revealed that gender issues were taken seriously among the sampled institutions, which is an encouraging trend. Challenges seen in implementing sustainability leadership are, for instance, a lack of interest by the university administration and among some members of the academic community, as well as lack of expertise and materials or resources. Based on the empirical insights, a set of measures were listed and which may be adopted in the future, so as to allow leaders of Higher Education Institutions to enhance their sustainability performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Walter Leal Filho & João Henrique Paulino Pires Eustachio & Adriana Cristina Ferreira Caldana & Markus Will & Amanda Lange Salvia & Izabela S. Rampasso & Rosley Anholon & Johannes Platje & Marina Kova, 2020. "Sustainability Leadership in Higher Education Institutions: An Overview of Challenges," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-19, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:9:p:3761-:d:354405
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/9/3761/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/9/3761/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bandar Alkhayyal & Wafa Labib & Talal Alsulaiman & Abdelhakim Abdelhadi, 2019. "Analyzing Sustainability Awareness among Higher Education Faculty Members: A Case Study in Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Junguo Liu & Kamaljit S. Bawa & Thomas P. Seager & Ganquan Mao & Ding Ding & Janice Ser Huay Lee & Janet K. Swim, 2019. "On knowledge generation and use for sustainability," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 2(2), pages 80-82, February.
    3. Weiping Jiang & Xianbo Zhao & Jiongbin Ni, 2017. "The Impact of Transformational Leadership on Employee Sustainable Performance: The Mediating Role of Organizational Citizenship Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-17, September.
    4. Etayankara Muralidharan & Saurav Pathak, 2018. "Sustainability, Transformational Leadership, and Social Entrepreneurship," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-22, February.
    5. Walter Filho Leal & Valeria Ruiz Vargas & Salvia Amanda Lange & Luciana Londero Brandli & Eric Pallant & Maris Klavins & Subhasis Ray & Sara Moggi & Marija Maruna & Elisa Conticelli & Martin Amogre Ay, 2019. "The role of higher education institutions in sustainability initiatives at the local level," Post-Print hal-02266237, HAL.
    6. Shiel, Chris & Leal Filho, Walter & do Paço, Arminda & Brandli, Luciana, 2016. "Evaluating the engagement of universities in capacity building for sustainable development in local communities," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 123-134.
    7. Annamaria Di Fabio & José María Peiró, 2018. "Human Capital Sustainability Leadership to Promote Sustainable Development and Healthy Organizations: A New Scale," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-11, July.
    8. Ferdinando Di Carlo & Guido Modugno & Tommaso Agasisti & Giuseppe Catalano, 2019. "Changing the Accounting System to Foster Universities’ Financial Sustainability: First Evidence from Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-18, November.
    9. E. R. Osagie & R. Wesselink & V. Blok & T. Lans & M. Mulder, 2016. "Individual Competencies for Corporate Social Responsibility: A Literature and Practice Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 135(2), pages 233-252, May.
    10. Lisa Benton-Short & Kathleen A. Merrigan, 2016. "Beyond interdisciplinary: how sustainability creates opportunities for pan-university efforts," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 6(2), pages 387-398, June.
    11. Noha Hamie Haidar, 2018. "Gender Leadership and Excellence: The Case of Higher Education in Lebanon," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-10, December.
    12. Walter Leal Filho & Valeria Ruiz Vargas & Amanda Lange Salvia & Luciana Londero Brandli & Eric Pallant & Maris Klavins & Subhasis Ray & Sara Moggi & Marija Maruna & Elisa Conticelli & Martin Ayanore &, 2019. "The role of higher education institutions in sustainability initiatives at the local level," Post-Print hal-02559727, HAL.
    13. Tobias Hahn & Jonatan Pinkse & Lutz Preuss & Frank Figge, 2015. "Tensions in Corporate Sustainability: Towards an Integrative Framework," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 127(2), pages 297-316, March.
    14. David Griggs & Mark Stafford-Smith & Owen Gaffney & Johan Rockström & Marcus C. Öhman & Priya Shyamsundar & Will Steffen & Gisbert Glaser & Norichika Kanie & Ian Noble, 2013. "Sustainable development goals for people and planet," Nature, Nature, vol. 495(7441), pages 305-307, March.
    15. Stephanie Kaza & Lisa Watts Natkin & Tarah Rowse, 2016. "Developing sustainability leadership through faculty professional development," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 6(2), pages 437-444, June.
    16. Verena Radinger-Peer & Gesa Pflitsch, 2017. "The role of higher education institutions in regional transition paths towards sustainability," Review of Regional Research: Jahrbuch für Regionalwissenschaft, Springer;Gesellschaft für Regionalforschung (GfR), vol. 37(2), pages 161-187, October.
    17. Marcus Noland & Tyler Moran & Barbara Kotschwar, 2016. "Is Gender Diversity Profitable? Evidence from a Global Survey," Working Paper Series WP16-3, Peterson Institute for International Economics.
    18. Robert Strand, 2014. "Strategic Leadership of Corporate Sustainability," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 123(4), pages 687-706, September.
    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. Gladys Merma-Molina & Mayra Urrea-Solano & Salvador Baena-Morales & Diego Gavilán-Martín, 2022. "The Satisfactions, Contributions, and Opportunities of Women Academics in the Framework of Sustainable Leadership: A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-23, July.
    2. Ana Pellín Carcelén & Nuria Cuevas Monzonís & Ana Rodríguez Martín & Vicente Gabarda Méndez, 2021. "Promotion of Environmental Education in the Spanish Compulsory Education Curriculum. A Normative Analysis and Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-14, February.
    3. Ya-Ching Chang & Hsing-Lung Lien, 2020. "Mapping Course Sustainability by Embedding the SDGs Inventory into the University Curriculum: A Case Study from National University of Kaohsiung in Taiwan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-21, May.
    4. Chieh-Hsin Tang, 2023. "Constructing Operational Methods for the Continuous Development of Design Concepts," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-17, May.
    5. Freddy Marín-González & Sharmila Rani Moganadas & Ana Judith Paredes-Chacín & Sook Fern Yeo & Subhacini Subramaniam, 2022. "Sustainable Local Development: Consolidated Framework for Cross-Sectoral Cooperation via a Systematic Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-33, May.
    6. Tim Williams & Melissa Edwards & Tamsin Angus-Leppan & Suzanne Benn, 2021. "Making sense of sustainability work: A narrative approach," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 46(4), pages 740-760, November.
    7. Leona Aimée Henry & Tine Buyl & Rob J.G. Jansen, 2019. "Leading corporate sustainability: The role of top management team composition for triple bottom line performance," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(1), pages 173-184, January.
    8. Gaea Morales & Erin Bromaghim & Angela Kim & Caroline Diamond & Alejo Maggini & Avery Everhart & Sofia Gruskin & Anthony Tirado Chase, 2021. "Classroom Walls and City Hall: Mobilizing Local Partnerships to Advance the Sustainable Development Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-9, May.
    9. Suparak Suriyankietkaew & Phallapa Petison, 2019. "A Retrospective and Foresight: Bibliometric Review of International Research on Strategic Management for Sustainability, 1991–2019," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-27, December.
    10. Hammad Bin Azam Hashmi & Cosmina L. Voinea & Marjolein C. J. Caniëls & Ward Ooms & Kashif Abbass, 2023. "Do top management team diversity and chief sustainability officer make firms greener? Moderating role of top management team behavioral integration," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(4), pages 2536-2547, August.
    11. Daniel A. Salas & Paulina Criollo & Angel D. Ramirez, 2021. "The Role of Higher Education Institutions in the Implementation of Circular Economy in Latin America," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-27, August.
    12. Suparak Suriyankietkaew & Krittawit Krittayaruangroj & Nacharee Iamsawan, 2022. "Sustainable Leadership Practices and Competencies of SMEs for Sustainability and Resilience: A Community-Based Social Enterprise Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-36, May.
    13. Zhe Cheng & Tong Xiao & Chen Chen & Xiong Xiong, 2022. "Evaluation of Scientific Research in Universities Based on the Idea of Education for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-18, February.
    14. Virginia Navajas-Romero & Rosalía Díaz-Carrión & Antonio Ariza-Montes, 2019. "Decent Work as Determinant of Work Engagement on Dependent Self-Employed," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-17, April.
    15. Nikša Alfirević & Lena Malešević Perović & Maja Mihaljević Kosor, 2023. "Productivity and Impact of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)-Related Academic Research: A Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-17, April.
    16. Alberto Paucar‐Caceres & Melissa Franchini Cavalcanti‐Bandos & Silvia Cristina Quispe‐Prieto & Lucero Nicole Huerta‐Tantalean & Katarzyna Werner‐Masters, 2022. "Using soft systems methodology to align community projects with sustainability development in higher education stakeholders' networks in a Brazilian university," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(4), pages 750-764, July.
    17. Ashpreet Kaur & Krista L. Thyberg & David J. Tonjes, 2025. "Zero-Waste Program Success: A Systems Approach to Indicators at the Micro, Meso, and Macro Levels," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-24, April.
    18. Jean-Marie Courrent & Sonia Chassé & Waleed Omri, 2018. "Do Entrepreneurial SMEs Perform Better Because They are More Responsible?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 153(2), pages 317-336, December.
    19. Amila Omazic & Bernd Markus Zunk, 2021. "Semi-Systematic Literature Review on Sustainability and Sustainable Development in Higher Education Institutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-45, July.
    20. Luca Carollo & Marco Guerci, 2018. "‘Activists in a Suit’: Paradoxes and Metaphors in Sustainability Managers’ Identity Work," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 148(2), pages 249-268, March.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:9:p:3761-:d:354405. 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.