Barriers to innovation and sustainability in universities: an international comparison

被引:60
作者
Avila, Lucas Veiga [1 ]
Beuron, Thiago Antonio [2 ]
Brandli, Luciana Londero [3 ]
Damke, Luana Ines [1 ]
Pereira, Rudiney Soares [4 ]
Klein, Leander Luiz [1 ]
机构
[1] Univ Fed Santa Maria, Dept Management, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
[2] Univ Fed Pampa, Dept Management, Bage, Brazil
[3] Univ Passo Fundo, Civil & Environm Engn Master Program, Passo Fundo, Brazil
[4] Univ Fed Santa Maria, Dept Forestry Engn, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
关键词
Universities; Innovation; Sustainable development; Sustainability; Barriers to innovation and sustainability in universities; ORIENTED INNOVATION; MANAGEMENT; CURRICULUM; EDUCATION; FUTURE;
D O I
10.1108/IJSHE-02-2019-0067
中图分类号
X [环境科学、安全科学];
学科分类号
08 ; 0830 ;
摘要
Purpose Sustainability has become a global concern to deal with complex and unprecedent survival, social, political and peace issues. Higher education institutions play a key role in this transformation. This paper aims to conduct a comparative analysis by continents of innovation and sustainability barriers in universities. The document also offers opportunities and potential actions for universities to create initiatives to minimize barriers and move towards a sustainable future. Design/methodology/approach To carry out the study, 25 closed questions, composed of a five-point Likert scale, were applied to 283 university representatives (rectors, managers or specialists in the area of innovation and sustainability), to check the degree of application of the questionnaire. Findings From an exploratory statistical analysis, it was found that the main barriers were lacking of planning and focus, lacking of environmental committee, lacking of applicability and continuity of actions and resistance to changes. Among continents, Africa and Oceania presented the best innovation and sustainability indicators in universities. The main approach of this exploratory study on barriers in universities is as an international research, whose findings showed that several barriers currently prevent universities from getting involved in sustainable development efforts. However, as we debate sustainable development, which is gaining momentum, universities are supposed to move forward to overcome barriers for the sake of implementing goals and initiatives. In addition, universities must seize opportunities to contribute through innovation in teaching, research and initiatives to achieve the 17 sustainable development goals. Social implications The exploratory study on barriers in universities brings international research as main approach, which made it possible to check that several barriers currently prevent universities from getting involved in sustainable development efforts. However, as we debate sustainable development, which is gaining momentum, it is important that universities should move forward to overcome the barriers to implementation of goals and initiatives. In addition, universities should take advantage of opportunities to contribute through innovation in teaching, research and action to achieve the 17 sustainable development goals. Originality/value Developed countries are leaders in promoting sustainability, while developing or underdeveloped countries are laggards. In this approach, the study sought to verify the differences through a comparative analysis across continents. As for originality and innovation, this paper presents an international study in the view of specialists who respond based on the experience of their university.
引用
收藏
页码:805 / 821
页数:17
相关论文
共 68 条
[1]   Developing a university-wide course on sustainability: a critical evaluation of planning and implementation [J].
Aktas, Can B. ;
Whelan, Rosemary ;
Stoffer, Howard ;
Todd, Edmund ;
Kern, Cindy L. .
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION, 2015, 106 :216-221
[2]   Conceptualization of sustainable higher education institutions, roles, barriers, and challenges for sustainability: An exploratory study in Portugal [J].
Aleixo, Ana Marta ;
Leal, Susana ;
Azeiteiro, Ulisses Miranda .
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION, 2018, 172 :1664-1673
[3]  
[Anonymous], SHAP ED TOM REP UN D
[4]  
[Anonymous], 1999, Fostering Sustainable Behaviour - An Introduction to Community-Based Social Marketing
[5]   Barriers to innovation and sustainability at universities around the world [J].
Avila, Lucas Veiga ;
Leal Filho, Walter ;
Brandli, Luciana ;
Macgregor, Colin J. ;
Molthan-Hill, Petra ;
Ozuyar, Pinar Gokcin ;
Moreira, Rodrigo Martins .
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION, 2017, 164 :1268-1278
[6]   INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY: NEW MODELS AND PROPOSITIONS [J].
Barbieri, Jose Carlos ;
Gouveia de Vasconcelos, Isabella Freitas ;
Andreassi, Tales ;
de Vasconcelos, Flavio Carvalho .
RAE-REVISTA DE ADMINISTRACAO DE EMPRESAS, 2010, 50 (02) :146-154
[7]   Academic staff development as a catalyst for curriculum change towards education for sustainable development: an output perspective [J].
Barth, Matthias ;
Rieckmann, Marco .
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION, 2012, 26 :28-36
[8]  
Brandli L.L., 2015, Integrating sustainability thinking in science and Engineering curricula, P63
[9]  
Cameron G., 1996, INNOVATION EC GROWTH
[10]   Involvement of final architecture diploma projects in the analysis of the UPC buildings energy performance as a way of teaching practical sustainability [J].
Cantalapiedra, I. R. ;
Bosch, M. ;
Lopez, F. .
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION, 2006, 14 (9-11) :958-962