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Sustainability as an Emerging Paradigm in Universities

Author

Listed:
  • Mercedes Gaitán-Angulo

    (Escuela de Negocios, Fundación Universitaria Konrad Lorenz, Bogotá 110111, Colombia)

  • Melva Inés Gómez-Caicedo

    (Facultad de Ciencias Económicas, Administrativas y Contables, Fundación Universitaria Los Libertadores, Bogotá 110111, Colombia)

  • Maritza Torres-Samuel

    (Decanato de Ciencias y Tecnología, Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado, Barquisimeto 3001, Venezuela)

  • Adriana Correa-Guimaraes

    (Departamento de Ingeniería Agrícola y Forestal, Campus Universitario Duques de Soria Universidad de Valladolid, 42004 Soria, Spain)

  • Luis Manuel Navas-Gracia

    (ETSIIAA de Palencia, Departamento de Iingeniería Agrícola y Forestal, Universidad de Valladolid, 34004 Palencia, Spain)

  • Carmen Luisa Vásquez-Stanescu

    (Vicerrectorado Barquisimeto, Universidad Nacional Experimental Politécnica Antonio José de Sucre, Barquisimeto 3001, Venezuela)

  • Rodrigo Ramírez-Pisco

    (Universitat Carlemany, 4000 Sant Julià de Lòria, Andorra)

  • Marisabel Luna-Cardozo

    (Vicerrectorado Barquisimeto, Universidad Nacional Experimental Politécnica Antonio José de Sucre, Barquisimeto 3001, Venezuela)

Abstract

This article aims to review the perspective of sustainability adoption in universities through two dimensions: firstly, from the educational and research process, and second, from their global positioning in terms of the performance of their university campus. For this purpose, a bibliometric analysis was carried out, referring to publications dating from 2006 to 2020, using the terms “Sustainability, green universities and curricular sustainability” as search keywords. In addition, an analysis of eight global university rankings was made, gathering information from their official websites on their evaluation fields, indicators, and volume of Ibero–American universities cataloged. The result is that, since 2007, the number of publications on this topic has increased, showing that the participation of Latin American in publications is very low (3.69%). Furthermore, only 12% of Latin American universities are included in world rankings. Sustainability has hardly been integrated into university academic programs; likewise, it is observed that the traditional world ranking of universities mainly take into account factors related to teaching and research, without considering criteria related to sustainability. Moreover, it is essential to develop policies that encourage universities to develop sustainability strategies in their academic and institutional processes in general, as well as in the global university evaluation systems, in order to value sustainability adequately in both in academics, research and institutional performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Mercedes Gaitán-Angulo & Melva Inés Gómez-Caicedo & Maritza Torres-Samuel & Adriana Correa-Guimaraes & Luis Manuel Navas-Gracia & Carmen Luisa Vásquez-Stanescu & Rodrigo Ramírez-Pisco & Marisabel Luna, 2022. "Sustainability as an Emerging Paradigm in Universities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-23, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:5:p:2582-:d:756838
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cecilia Elizabeth Bayas Aldaz & Jesus Rodriguez-Pomeda & Leyla Angélica Sandoval Hamón & Fernando Casani, 2020. "Understanding the University-Sustainability Link through Media: A Spanish Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-15, June.
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