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Universities for Sustainable Development and Low-Carbon Economy: Green Universities, Green Skills, Social Role of Universities

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 15831

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Honorata Howaniec

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Guest Editor

Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship, University of Bielsko-Biala, 43-309 Bielsko-Biala, Poland
Interests: CSR; social involvement; sustainable development; value-based marketing; competitiveness of enterprises/regions; innovativeness

Prof. Dr. Małgorzata Rutkowska

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Guest Editor

Department of Organisation and Management, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
Interests: economics; social insurance; management; innovation (eco-innovation); sustainable development; renewable energy source (RES); circular economy

Prof. Dr. Adam Pawliczek

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Guest Editor

Department of Business Economics and Management, Moravian Business College Olomouc, tř. Kosmonautů 1, CZ 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic
Interests: strategic management; business performance; SMEs; sustainable business; management tools; business lifecycles

Prof. Dr. Francisca Castilla-Polo

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Guest Editor

Department of Financial Economy and Accounting, University of Jaén, Campus Las Lagunillas s/n, 23071 Jaén, Spain
Interests: non-financial information; corporate social responsibility; intangible assets; social competences

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, interest in the subject of green economy and sustainable development has increased rapidly throughout the world, accompanied by a growing number of studies and research on corporate social responsibility. Much of the research in the field of green economy, sustainable development and social responsibility concerns the business sector. The impact of enterprises and their activities on the economy, environment and society is being analyzed, with the aim of providing solutions compliant with the adopted policy in the field of minimizing the negative impact of business on its environment.

However, the business/market sector is not the only group of entities that affects the environment. Other entities, such as higher education (universities) also play an important role, and their impact may be twofold. First, as actors themselves, they can take measures to minimize their negative impact on the environment, i.e., they can meet their needs for natural resources, such as energy, water and materials, in a way that has as little effect on present and future generations as possible. Secondly, they impact the education of future staff and their competences in a way that meets the expectations of both students and employers whilst accounting for sustainable development.

“Green skills,” which are defined as the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes needed to live, develop and foster a sustainable and resource-efficient society, will be needed in all sectors and at all levels of the workforce. It is therefore important to both define gaps in the current education systems and implement solutions and support systems that will allow for better preparation of future employees, but also of society, for the needs of the green economy and a sustainable future for all. The social role of universities is of particular importance in this regard. Through their activities, universities can play a leading intellectual and practical role in shaping political aspirations around the green economy.

Given the importance of sustainable development and the rapid development of new literature in this field, this Special Issue will enrich the literature with a wide range of discussions, contributing to the development of further research in the field of green universities, green skills and other relevant topics.

Dr. Honorata Howaniec
Prof. Dr. Małgorzata Rutkowska
Prof. Dr. Adam Pawliczek
Prof. Dr. Francisca Castilla-Polo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

green universities
green schools
green competencies
green knowledge
green skills, green abilities
green attitude
green behavior
green awareness
education for sustainable development and low-carbon economy
competency gaps
the contribution of universities and education to sustainable development and low-carbon economy
the social role of universities and other educational entities
responsible cooperation between science and business
cooperation between universities and business for sustainable development
the psychology of sustainability and sustainable development
advancing decent work
inclusion
the role of universities in the development of decent work and inclusivity
talent management as a key to improving the business performance and sustainable development of the organization
the link between talent management and sustainable development
the role of universities in shaping talents

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 2714 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The EntreComp Framework in Practice: A Case Study Linking Employability, Entrepreneurship, and Regional Development

by M. Isabel Sánchez-Hernández and Juan José Maldonado-Briegas

Sustainability 2023, 15(15), 12022; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151512022 - 05 Aug 2023

Viewed by 1078

Abstract

The objective of this study is to explore the interconnections among three pertinent topics in contemporary public policy, particularly within the European context: employability, entrepreneurship, and regional development. Initially, we conduct a bibliometric analysis to identify the primary trends in this field. Subsequently, we present and analyze a case study, namely the Innovation and Talent Retour Program (PIRT 2022), which is a public initiative aimed at attracting university graduates with prior international experience. This program is part of the Entrepreneurial Culture Programs offered by the Autonomous Community of Extremadura, located in Spain. By employing a questionnaire based on the EntreComp framework and involving a sample of university graduates’ beneficiaries of the program, we validate the measurement scale and investigate whether this project contributes to the development of entrepreneurial competencies among the participants. The insights gained from the obtained results inform future programs within the region, as well as other regions undergoing similar processes. This study delves into the theoretical and practical aspects of the role played by universities as key agents in fostering the sustainability of their respective territories. It is concluded that higher education must even assume a more proactive role in the future concerning the employability of its graduates and the overall development of the surrounding region in which it is located. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Universities for Sustainable Development and Low-Carbon Economy: Green Universities, Green Skills, Social Role of Universities)

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16 pages, 916 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Development and Corporate Sustainability of Chilean State Universities: Evidence from Their Strategic Elements

by Juan Abello-Romero, Claudio Mancilla, Walter Sáez, Francisco Ganga-Contreras and Ivette Durán-Seguel

Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 11033; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411033 - 14 Jul 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 989

Abstract

Corporate sustainability evolved in line with the advancement of the concept of sustainable development; thus, it is constituted as a strategy to respond to social and environmental problems. In this context, universities are understood as complex organizations, positioned as a key mechanism for delivering the sustainable development of society. This research aimed to analyze whether the strategic elements of Chilean state universities integrate components of sustainable development. For this purpose, qualitative research was undertaken through a documentary analysis of the strategic plans of the 18 Chilean state universities, focusing analysis on their strategic elements: their mission, vision and strategic institutional objectives. The results revealed that all universities mention at least one concept associated with one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in their strategic guidelines. They mainly focused on ‘Quality Education’ (SDG 4) and ‘Build resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation’ (SDG 9). Also, the results allow us to visualize how universities address corporate sustainability issues through their strategic plans. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Universities for Sustainable Development and Low-Carbon Economy: Green Universities, Green Skills, Social Role of Universities)

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14 pages, 987 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Using a Multi-Criteria Ranking Method to Assess Factors Influencing the Implementation of Sustainable Development at Higher Educational Institutions

by Jagoda Mrzygłocka-Chojnacka and Radosław Ryńca

Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 6256; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15076256 - 05 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1247

Abstract

Over the last years, there has been a significant increase in interest in sustainable development in higher education institutions, and many have begun to implement sustainable development into their system. Several sustainable development assessment tools have also been developed to help universities systematically measure, monitor, benchmark, communicate, and manage their sustainable development efforts. These efforts have led to mixed results. It seems that one of the main reasons for this situation is the non-systematic and non-holistic approach to implementing sustainable development in universities. Thus, it can be assumed that the implementation of sustainable development in a university should cover all dimensions of its functioning and involve actors within it. Therefore, the aim of this article is to present a tool (inspired by the concept of university sustainability), based on the method of multicriteria rankings, for assessing the factors influencing the implementation of sustainable development in higher education institutions at the level of departments, as relatively autonomous wholes, based on the analysis of departments at one of the leading technical universities in Poland. The proposed tool provides an opportunity for a more holistic view of sustainable development implementation, both by prioritizing factors and by considering that higher education institutions are systems that are, in fact, composed of two distinct but necessarily cooperating subsystems: the academic subsystem and the administrative subsystem. The proposal is preliminary, but it seems that given the relevance and urgency of the sustainable development issue, this is the direction to take in research on sustainable development management in higher education institutions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Universities for Sustainable Development and Low-Carbon Economy: Green Universities, Green Skills, Social Role of Universities)

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18 pages, 619 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Added Value on a Day in the Pandemic in Tourist Attractions in the Polish–Czech Borderland as a Green Economy Initiative

by Małgorzata Pol, Małgorzata Rutkowska and Jerzy Tutaj

Sustainability 2023, 15(4), 2911; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15042911 - 06 Feb 2023

Viewed by 1196

Abstract

This study documents customer behavior in the travel services market before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (C-19). We offer theory-based and research-based insights that demonstrate customer value propositions during a pandemic and help predict future behavior for green tourism development. This article aim is to identify the relationship between the situation in tourism during the pandemic, customer behavior, and the added value that historical sites in Poland and the Czech Republic introduced or should introduce in the green economy. The topic is important because the situation during the pandemic showed the lack of a quick response, which is only possible if you have prepared scenarios for the crisis. This study discusses the marketing factors of creating value and analyzes the value strategy for individual clients. The authors of this study analyzed various stages in the customer life cycles in the company and the level of their profitability, taking into account the principles of the green economy (sustainable development) in the example of cultural facilities, i.e., Książ Castle in Poland and the Kuks Complex in the Czech Republic. Literature studies were used in this study, followed by the questionnaire method. The test results are presented in tabular form and supplemented with graphical forms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Universities for Sustainable Development and Low-Carbon Economy: Green Universities, Green Skills, Social Role of Universities)

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14 pages, 270 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Students’ Perceptions and Attitudes toward University Social Responsibility: Comparison between India and Croatia

by Mirna Leko Šimić, Ekta Sharma and Željka Kadlec

Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 13763; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142113763 - 24 Oct 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2483

Abstract

In addition to teaching and research, the “third mission” has become one of the major societal challenges faced by higher education institutions worldwide. This is related to the university’s efforts to contribute to the economic and social development of the community in which they operate. One of the major concepts focused on this issue is university social responsibility (USR). This study aimed to compare students’ perceptions of and attitude toward USR in two different countries, India and Croatia, and contribute to the research gap in cross-cultural aspects of USR. Since students are the most important stakeholders of the university and today’s students are known as Generation Z–altruistic, caring about the environment and social issues on one hand, and knowing that social responsibility is highly contextual regarding environment—it makes sense to study and compare students from two different countries. The research was conducted at Indian and Croatian universities, with a sample of 1340 respondents. It is based on Carroll’s pyramid of social responsibility regarding levels of USR (economic, legal, ethical, and philanthropic) and the ISO 26000 standards regarding areas of USR. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA, correlation, and regression analysis indicated some differences in perceptions of USR in the two countries but also the significant impact of knowledge about USR and having a course on social responsibility built into the curriculum on perceptions and attitude toward USR. The results show that universities in both countries need to focus on their third mission—specifically, contributing to local community development in creating their USR policies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Universities for Sustainable Development and Low-Carbon Economy: Green Universities, Green Skills, Social Role of Universities)

16 pages, 1031 KiB

Open AccessArticle

E-Learning as an Instrument for Managing Knowledge in the Field of Sustainable Development in a Chemical Company in Poland

by Aldona Małgorzata Dereń, Jan Skonieczny and Sylwia Łukaszczykiewicz

Sustainability 2022, 14(14), 8351; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14148351 - 07 Jul 2022

Viewed by 1761

Abstract

The driving force of civilizational change was and is the development of science, education, and great ideas that determine human actions, shaping the attitudes and behavior of individuals, organizations, and entire societies. Such an idea is sustainable development, an anticipation of the possible future challenges of society, so knowledge about it should be communicated to a wide audience because action is possible when various entities have the appropriate knowledge. Implementing the concept of a sustainable organization requires an organization to change its mindset (testing existing principles, beliefs, or behaviors) and to take steps to build an organizational culture so that the idea of sustainability applies to all levels in the organization, i.e., jobs, processes, and strategies. The changes should go in the long-term direction, not just be short-term actions. What is needed, then, is a deep analysis of existing resources and an understanding that the organization does not operate in a vacuum, but interacts with the natural environment, the local community, employees, shareholders, and stakeholders. The purpose of the article is to identify ways to implement the concept of sustainability through knowledge management using an e-learning platform in the relationship ecosystem using the example of the chemical company ‘Grupa Azoty’ Group. A case study method was used, which allowed the analysis of the issue of sustainable development in the context of knowledge management and corporate e-learning. In addition, an analysis of the state and prospects of the chemical industry in Poland during the period of sustainable transformation as a business environment for ‘Grupa Azoty’ Group was carried out. For the described company, the development and implementation of an e-learning platform can support the implementation of a sustainable development strategy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Universities for Sustainable Development and Low-Carbon Economy: Green Universities, Green Skills, Social Role of Universities)

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17 pages, 3796 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of Universities in Shaping Talents—The Case of the Czech Republic, Poland and Ukraine

by Honorata Howaniec, Oleh Karyy and Adam Pawliczek

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5476; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095476 - 03 May 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2145

Abstract

Talents are seen as unique strategic resources that are essential to achieving a sustainable competitive advantage. Organizations use TM to source and maintain a high quality and quantity of talents. Despite numerous research and development of practice in this area, insufficient skills of the staff are still underlined, and an unexplored area in this regard is the support for talent development, prior to the employment of employees (i.e., at the stage of their education). There are numerous studies on TM in universities, but they cover all aspects of TM aimed at university staff. There is no research on supporting the talents of students as future employees. Meanwhile, universities “shape” the future staff and from this place employees identified as talented or with great potential are recruited. In connection with the identified gap, the question was asked whether and to what extent universities and educational entities should be involved in discovering and developing talents for the future needs of the economy. The aim of the article was to check how students perceive their future (i.e., their vision of life), how much of it is related to their future job, and how they see universities as an environment to support their talents. The study used the questionnaire-based survey-CAWI (computer assisted web interview) technique. The research was conducted in the Czech Republic, Poland, and Ukraine. The results of the research show that the support of talent development by universities is not sufficient, and the majority of students (despite the fact that the research was conducted in the last semesters of studies) do not have clearly defined goals and methods of achieving them. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Universities for Sustainable Development and Low-Carbon Economy: Green Universities, Green Skills, Social Role of Universities)

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11 pages, 365 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Green Intellectual Property as a Strategic Resource in the Sustainable Development of an Organization

by Aldona Małgorzata Dereń and Jan Skonieczny

Sustainability 2022, 14(8), 4758; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14084758 - 15 Apr 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3037

Abstract

The concept of sustainable development is part of global problems related to human activity, and the functioning of economies and societies in both developed and developing countries. For economic organizations, it means a way of management in which economic, environmental, and social issues related to their functioning are taken into account simultaneously and equally. In organizations following this path of development, a new quality of management should appear. It may concern, among other things, such aspects as the way of including the issue of sustainable development in the organization’s strategy and the way of measuring the achievements in this area. In economic practice, organizations should—to a greater extent than before—focus on products (and/or services), technologies, and resources that contribute not only to obtaining benefits for the organization itself but also for the wider environment. Managing such an organization requires not only the transformation of the attitudes and behaviors of managers and employees but also noticing and taking into account the creative use of tangible and intangible resources, and the creation of innovative concepts and solutions. The purpose of this article is to present green intellectual property as a strategic resource for an organization working towards sustainable economic development. Contemporary organizations that use green intellectual property create a strategy based on the definition of goals and actions to ensure homeostasis between economic, social, and environmental development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Universities for Sustainable Development and Low-Carbon Economy: Green Universities, Green Skills, Social Role of Universities)

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