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National Sustainability Outreach Assessment Based on Human and Social Capital: The Case of Environmental Sciences in Switzerland

Author

Listed:
  • Harald A. Mieg

    (Institute of Geography, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, Berlin D-10099, Germany)

  • Ralph Hansmann

    (Department of Environmental Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, ETHZ CHN, Universitätsstrasse 8, Zurich CH-8092, Switzerland)

  • Peter M. Frischknecht

    (Department of Environmental Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, ETHZ CHN, Universitätsstrasse 8, Zurich CH-8092, Switzerland)

Abstract

This paper reports on a sustainability outreach study based on an assessment of human and social capital. The aim was to capture the national sustainability outreach of twenty years of Environmental Sciences education, centered at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich. The study contained two lines of research, one being a human capital assessment with a survey among graduates from the years 1992 to 2005 (n = 542) and the other being a social capital analysis based on interviews with institutions that represent the Swiss social systems of economy, politics/public administration and civil society (20 institutions). Our analyses reveal several functional forms of both human capital (specialists, pioneers, leaders) and social capital (qualification profile, internalization, networks, standardization, professionalization) that trigger and channel sustainability outreach.

Suggested Citation

  • Harald A. Mieg & Ralph Hansmann & Peter M. Frischknecht, 2011. "National Sustainability Outreach Assessment Based on Human and Social Capital: The Case of Environmental Sciences in Switzerland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 4(1), pages 1-25, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:4:y:2011:i:1:p:17-41:d:15455
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ivo Šlaus & Garry Jacobs, 2011. "Human Capital and Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 3(1), pages 1-58, January.
    2. William A. H. Scott & Stephen R. Gough, 2010. "Sustainability, Learning and Capability: Exploring Questions of Balance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 2(12), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Guri Krigsvoll & Marina Fumo & Renata Morbiducci, 2010. "National and International Standardization (International Organization for Standardization and European Committee for Standardization) Relevant for Sustainability in Construction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 2(12), pages 1-15, December.
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