The participatory process of planning social and environmental responsibility at a Brazilian university

Abstract

Purpose

Universities have an important role in articulation of the transformation of society, in the formation of individuals capable of acting in the processes that enable sustainable development goals (SDGs), in theoretical areas and in practical and concrete actions. Within the University of Passo Fundo (UPF), Brazil, some practices are being adopted from this perspective. This paper aims to present the efforts of UPF to achieve SDGs in its activities.

Design/methodology/approach

For the development of these research were consulted all administrative instruments of the Foundation University of Passo Fundo, from the proposals and guidelines of its creation in the decade of the 1960s to the most recent of the Institutional Development Plan PDI 2017-2021 and other bibliographic references. From the documentation, the effective results achieved by University Social Responsibility Policy (PRSU) and Institutional Environmental Policy were evaluated.

Findings

A process of consolidating the thematic of the SDGs within the university structure is perceived, with a participatory vision of the academic community.

Research limitations/implications

Although PRSU the policy has been developed since 2005, the effective results are recent and under construction.

Practical implications

The study identified a direction for a change of paradigms, moving from isolated and non-continuity actions to the establishment of normative guidelines.

Social implications

In this sense, this paper seeks to contribute to the process of discussion and generation of practices for the implementation of an agenda with its own goals in the areas of university’s action at local and regional levels, as well as contributing to a wide level.

Originality/value

The paper reports the process of development of the social and environmental policies at UPF to include SDGs in its academic and administrative procedures, which should encourage another similar university to follow suit.

Citation

Frandoloso, M.A. and Gasparetto Rebelatto, B. (2019), "The participatory process of planning social and environmental responsibility at a Brazilian university", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 20 No. 5, pp. 917-931. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-01-2019-0017