Proposal for sustainability action archetypes for higher education institutions
International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education
ISSN: 1467-6370
Article publication date: 13 September 2021
Issue publication date: 26 April 2022
Abstract
Purpose
Higher education institutions (HEIs) should assume their role as leaders in the search for a sustainable future. Consequently, such institutions need to incorporate sustainability into their activities. However, this needs to be done holistically and not with isolated and independent actions. Therefore, this study aims to develop a structure of sustainability action archetypes to help HEIs holistically incorporate sustainability in their strategies.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic review of the literature was conducted focusing on the subject of sustainability in HEIs.
Findings
A structure of sustainability action archetypes for HEIs was proposed. Further, based on scientific literature, examples of actions were presented within each archetype.
Practical implications
This study provides HEI administrators and other organizations with a practical structure to enable the systemic incorporation of sustainability objectives and actions into institutional activities.
Originality/value
This study adapts the tool “sustainable business model archetypes” for a new purpose. This tool was initially developed to classify innovations of sustainable business models.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Editage (www.editage.com) for English language editing.
Citation
Sanches, F.E.F., Campos, M.L., Gaio, L.E. and Belli, M.M. (2022), "Proposal for sustainability action archetypes for higher education institutions", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 23 No. 4, pp. 915-939. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-01-2021-0026
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited