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

Author

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  • 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
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    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. Hyojung Jung & Inyoung Song & Younghee Noh, 2025. "Development and Validation of a Self-Assessment Tool for Convergence Competencies in Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences for Sustainable Futures in the South Korean Context," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-22, August.
    3. Malgorzata Spychala & Malgorzata Slawinska, 2024. "The Method of Reflective Motivation in the Development of Employee Competencies," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(1), pages 842-858.
    4. 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.
    5. 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.
    6. Jen-Chia Chang & Han-Quan Lu, 2025. "Competency and Training Needs for Net-Zero Sustainability Management Personnel," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-22, April.

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