Responses to the Sustainability Challenges of a Colombian Private University

Abstract

Previous research on sustainability in higher education institutions has focused heavily on stand-alone initiatives and thus calls for a deeper understanding of ways in which sustainability can be embedded in multiple responses to sustainability challenges from teaching, research, service, and campus operations. The present study is a qualitative single-case study that analyses the main responses to the sustainability challenges of a Colombian private university. Data collection includes 11 individual semi-structured interviews with multiple institutional stakeholders and analysis of institutional documents concerning sustainability, including strategic plans, curricula, reports, and ranking information. The results show two leading responses to sustainability challenges, which involve different efforts in teaching, service, campus operations, and research. Six main influencing factors and multiple future perspectives to these sustainability responses are also reported. This study’s insights demonstrate the possibility to integrate multiple activities of a university, i.e., teaching, research, service, and campus operations, within the framework of sustainability responses in HEIs. Additionally, they underscore the value of programs and initiatives that originate from bottom-up interactions and networks, as well as the need for connecting them with the institutional strategic plans. These findings have implications for change management strategies and practices for sustainability responses in universities aiming to integrate several areas and activities within the institution.