Financing university sustainability initiatives in China: actors and processes
International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education
ISSN: 1467-6370
Article publication date: 22 September 2020
Issue publication date: 8 January 2021
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to study the mechanism of how the public universities have funded the campus sustainability projects in China, by identifying key actors and examining the processes.
Design/methodology/approach
Besides a review of campus sustainability initiatives at higher education institutions in China, the case of Central University of Finance and Economics (CUFE) is selected to provide an empirical understanding of the campus sustainability management in a typical university.
Findings
The paper points to dominant roles played by the state ministries in financing university conservation programs and the absence of a national policy framework and low sustainability proactiveness in a majority of higher educational institutions. It argues that more discretionary power and more policy deliberations are needed for the transformation.
Research limitations/implications
Universities in China vary distinctively in status, operations and performance. In terms of campus sustainability management, the case of CUFE is highly representative as it shares more common features with universities that develop in a routine manner.
Practical implications
With the financial support from government agencies, the campus conservation-oriented projects have been conducted and financially supported in hundreds of pilot universities, but failed in diffusing to more universities. This study identifies the barriers and challenges.
Social implications
An in-depth understanding of the working mechanism in financing university sustainability initiatives will promote a discussion on China’s policymaking process and will provide useful insights regarding its future policy options.
Originality/value
China has conducted nationwide conservation-oriented campus constriction for almost a decade and many universities increase their investment in campus facilities and their operations; however, there is a lack of understanding of the rationale of the funding models and how they have been implemented.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the Guest Editor Dr Faris Alshubiri and two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments.
This paper forms part of a special section “Sustainability funding in higher education”, guest edited by Dr Faris Nasif Alshubiri.
Citation
Liu, L. and Gao, L. (2021), "Financing university sustainability initiatives in China: actors and processes", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 22 No. 1, pp. 44-58. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-11-2019-0333
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited