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Open Access
Article
Publication date: 6 February 2017

Tamara Savelyeva and William Douglas

This paper aims to provide data on the self-perceived state of sustainability consciousness of first-year Hong Kong students.

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Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to provide data on the self-perceived state of sustainability consciousness of first-year Hong Kong students.

Design/methodology/approach

Within a mixed-method research design framework, the authors conducted 787 questionnaires and collected 989 reflective narratives of first-year students of a university in Hong Kong, who were enrolled in the General Education course.

Findings

Attributed to students’ immersion in compulsory sustainability education modules within liberal studies programs in secondary through higher education (HE), the quantitative results revealed an increase in the self-perceived knowledge and behavioral aspects of sustainability consciousness of Hong Kong students and their low engagement in sustainability-related civic, campus or action groups. However, qualitative results revealed three aspects of the students’ sustainability consciousness: intentionality to make a difference; engagement with complex questions about identity, society and nature; and eschatological perspectives, which included imaginative, future-oriented and action-oriented approaches to critical reflection, supported by the rhetoric of hope, promises and commitment for better future.

Originality/value

The study provides insights into the challenge of implementation of the United Nations-based sustainable development model in the Hong Kong educational system through the formal liberal studies curriculum. It advances the field by constructing a momentum for conceptual changes in sustainability education research toward design of the non-linear and culturally sensitive frameworks for sustainability implementation in HE. This allows to utilize universities’ unique capacities for fostering students’ sustainability consciousness in a continuous and systemic way.

Details

International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, vol. 18 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1467-6370

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 14 November 2016

Elaine L. Ritch and Douglas Brownlie

The purpose of this paper is to explore social dynamics around food and clothing provisioning for young families and how involvement in environmental concerns shapes those…

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore social dynamics around food and clothing provisioning for young families and how involvement in environmental concerns shapes those dynamics and presents challenges and opportunities to in terms of evolving consumer tastes. Through collecting and analysing narratives of mothering, the authors explore the influence of children on decision making in household provisioning; in particular, how their education into sustainable concepts through the European initiative of eco-schools impacts provisioning.

Design/methodology/approach

The exploratory research design specifically sought the demographic profile identified in extant literature as engaging with sustainability issues to explore how they were interpreted into familial consumption. This resulted in 28 unstructured interviews exploring a range of related topics with a group of highly educated working mothers with a profession.

Findings

The study finds that family consumption behaviour is mediated by relations towards environmental concerns and taste positions taken by both parents and children. It illustrates how care for children’s safety, social resilience and health and well-being is habitus informed as well as being the subject of wider institutional logics including educational interventions such as school eco-status and participation in mother and child activity groups. However, tensions arose surrounding the children’s socialisation with peers and space was provided to help the children self-actualise.

Research limitations/implications

The exploratory goal of the study limited the scope of its empirical work to a small group of participants sharing consumer characteristics and geographical location.

Practical implications

The research provides ideas for retailers, brands and marketers to better position their product offering as it relates to growing family concerns for ecological issues and sustainable consumption, as well as what motivates sustainable behaviours, from both the child and mothers perspective.

Social implications

The research identifies the immersion of sustainability into family households when there are no financial implications, influenced through campaigns, schools and society. This provides examples of what motivates sustainable behaviours for retailers and marketers to develop strategies that can be capitalised on.

Originality/value

The originality of the research emerges through examining how children influence sustainability within households and decision making, moving beyond health implications to educate children to be responsible consumers through play and authentic experiences.

Details

International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, vol. 44 no. 11
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-0552

Keywords

Content available
Article
Publication date: 13 January 2020

Yusuf Sidani

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Abstract

Details

The Learning Organization, vol. 27 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-6474

Article
Publication date: 9 November 2023

Nitha Palakshappa, Sarah Dodds and Loren M. Stangl

The world continues to grapple with grand challenges – climate change, pandemic, poverty, social injustice and diminishing resources – requiring mitigation if we are to focus on…

Abstract

Purpose

The world continues to grapple with grand challenges – climate change, pandemic, poverty, social injustice and diminishing resources – requiring mitigation if we are to focus on well-being and move towards a more sustainable future. Cultivating sustainable ecosystems offers a possible solution. The purpose of this paper is to understand how sustainable organizations at the meso level can nurture sustainable service ecosystems that provide the potential for greater well-being outcomes for individuals, business, society and the planet.

Design/methodology/approach

Case study data is gathered from 11 sustainable fashion organizations operating at the meso level within a complex ecosystem. The analysis includes interviews with founders and/or key managers and secondary information from company websites and publicly available reports.

Findings

The findings identify key value co-creation sustainable practices at the meso level that facilitate the function of the service ecosystem to create well-being outcomes. Value co-creation practices include – embedding a sustainable ethos; implementing sustainable strategies that embrace innovation, transparency and stakeholder collaboration; and incorporating sustainable communication practices that engage.

Originality/value

Encapsulating sustainability within macromarketing and service ecosystems enables the development of a sustainable service ecosystems framework that has the potential to offer enhanced well-being. Implications for marketing practice in terms of important factors that facilitate service-sustainable ecosystems to enhance well-being are considered.

Details

Journal of Services Marketing, vol. 38 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0887-6045

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 October 2021

Elisabete Correia, Sara Sousa, Clara Viseu and Joana Leite

Through the application of the theory of planned behavior (TPB), this study aims to explore the main determinants of higher education students’ pro-environmental behavior.

Abstract

Purpose

Through the application of the theory of planned behavior (TPB), this study aims to explore the main determinants of higher education students’ pro-environmental behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was conducted among the students of a public higher education institution (HEI) in Portugal, from March to May of 2020. The data were analyzed with the structural equation modeling technique, considering environmental attitude, knowledge, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control as exogenous latent variables, and pro-environmental intention and behavior as endogenous latent variables.

Findings

The results show that the students’ environmental attitude and knowledge have no significant impact on their pro-environmental intention, while the students’ subjective norm and perceived behavioral control have a positive impact on their pro-environmental intention. The results also reveal that the students’ perceived behavioral control and pro-environmental intention have a strong and positive impact on their pro-environmental behavior.

Research limitations/implications

This study focuses on the students from a single public HEI, in accounting and administration area, and deepens environmental behavior in relation to resources’ consumption.

Practical implications

This study provides findings that can be useful for HEIs to be more effective in their policies, strategies and practices to improve students’ environmental behavior.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the literature by exploring the main determinants of higher education students’ pro-environmental behavior in a Portuguese HEI and extending the TPB considering the additional variable environmental knowledge.

Details

International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, vol. 23 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1467-6370

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 August 2020

Zejing Qu, Wen Huang and Zhengjun Zhou

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of applying sustainability to the engineering curriculum at a university in China.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of applying sustainability to the engineering curriculum at a university in China.

Design/methodology/approach

A new curriculum, “ethics, involvement and sustainability,” was designed and presented to engineering students from an undergraduate major in quality management engineering. This curriculum incorporated knowledge acquisition and skills training into sustainability via various teaching approaches in a mandatory curriculum at Tongling University, China. Pre- and post-questionnaire surveys, as well as a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model, were adopted to evaluate the changes in knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of respondents before and after curriculum implementation.

Findings

Significant changes in knowledge and attitudes were observed following the implementation of the curriculum. In terms of the development of new behaviors, the changes tended to be moderate. Generally, respondents were satisfied with the effectiveness of the new interdisciplinary curriculum post-implementation.

Practical implications

Positive results were observed for the pilot and practice of the new engineering education (NEE) strategy at the cooperating university in China. Specifically, the integration of sustainability into curriculum design, implementation and evaluation inspired greater social responsibility in engineering students’ decision-making processes. Additionally, it shed light on how to integrate the concept of sustainability into curricula. One limitation of this study was the absence of a comparison group that did not experience the new curriculum.

Originality/value

Scant attention has been paid to local universities in the context of the newly-launched NEE strategy. This study provides new insight regarding the implementation of sustainability into engineering curricula and practice via formal, but diversified, teaching approaches.

Details

International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, vol. 21 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1467-6370

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 August 2022

Yao Meng, Man Yin Chu and Dickson K.W. Chiu

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, museums, as public gathering places for citizens, have encountered unprecedented difficulties due to limitations to…

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Abstract

Purpose

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, museums, as public gathering places for citizens, have encountered unprecedented difficulties due to limitations to operate as usual for their traditional exhibitions and curations. Thus, museums made corresponding emergency attempts to accelerate digital resource and service platform constructions. Such difficulties aroused many potential problems with the applicability of electronic resources and the mismatch between user expectations and museum services. This study investigates the challenges faced by Hong Kong museums under COVID-19, emergency responses and deliberate practices of Hong Kong museums from the perspective of both museum staff and visitors, and COVID-19's influence on the roles and functions of Hong Kong museums.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative interviews with museum staff and visitors were conducted to collect opinions and experiences in the construction and maintenance of museums during the pandemic. Further thematic analyses of museum websites, evaluations, and suggestions were formulated guided by the PEST (Political, Economic, Social, Technological) and AIDA (Attention, Interest, Desire, Action) models.

Findings

Findings revealed many online interactions and offline renovations, but the perceptions of visitors and staff differed considerably. While online resources and virtual museums were expanded and well received, long-term prohibitions and repressions drove physical visit desire. Participants emphasized finding a balance between user expectations and realistic practices.

Originality/value

Scant studies focus on the impact of COVID-19 on the cultural industry, especially in East Asia. This study also highlights new practices of digitalization and the challenges of functional transformation. The authors' findings and suggestions provide hints to optimize the curation of information resources and improve museum service quality in the new digital era. This study also serves as a reliable and meaningful record of COVID-19 impacts on Hong Kong museums.

Details

Library Hi Tech, vol. 41 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0737-8831

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 February 2010

Emma L. Smith, Andrew P. Abbott, Jason Griffin, Robert C. Harris, Cecil O'Connor and Karl S. Ryder

The purpose of this paper is to present the optimisation of protocols for the immersion coating of silver onto copper‐track printed circuit board (PCB) assemblies, using a novel…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the optimisation of protocols for the immersion coating of silver onto copper‐track printed circuit board (PCB) assemblies, using a novel class of ionic liquid and to show the implementation of the scale up process.

Design/methodology/approach

Various conditions (temperatures and silver concentrations) are studied individually under laboratory conditions and then optimised for a pilot scale demonstrator line that is used to process British Standard test coupons.

Findings

The use of these novel liquids for the immersion coating of silver produces silver dip coatings that are bright and even and which give solderability that is as good as the commercial aqueous, nitric acid based, electroless process without any solder‐mask interface etching.

Research limitations/implications

The combined technology has been optimised for an immersion silver coating line. Further development work should be undertaken to tailor the technology for gold immersion coating of PCB assemblies.

Originality/value

The paper details a process in which no solder‐mask interface etching is observed; that does not require the use of strong inorganic acids or expensive catalysts to sustain deposition and which does not appear to be light sensitive in contrast to other processes.

Details

Circuit World, vol. 36 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0305-6120

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 17 January 2020

Smitu Malhotra and Venugopal Pingali

The purpose of this paper is to review Indian management-school programs that integrate social and environmental concerns in the curriculum.

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review Indian management-school programs that integrate social and environmental concerns in the curriculum.

Approach

The paper analyses the data provided in the form of reports submitted by students after the rural immersion program and draws inferences from the written material.

Findings

This paper illustrates the usefulness of the rural immersion program in sensitizing students about the social divide that exists in India; thus, it helps inculcate an inclusive mind-set.

Practical implications

This paper emphasizes the usefulness of creating a management curriculum that integrates societal issues in the learning process.

Originality/value

The paper discusses how a top Indian business school is attempting to develop socially-responsible managers.

Details

Development and Learning in Organizations: An International Journal, vol. 34 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1477-7282

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 24 June 2022

Chenglin Qing, Xiu Jin and Yonghui Xu

The global business environment has brought about great innovation according to the advent of the fourth industrial revolution era. Most of the enterprises are focusing on…

Abstract

Purpose

The global business environment has brought about great innovation according to the advent of the fourth industrial revolution era. Most of the enterprises are focusing on adapting to the era of the fourth industrial revolution and trying to find appropriate strategies. Competitiveness among enterprises is changing fiercely. Such environments are threatening to the sustainability of enterprises. In this regard, it is a key issue that how enterprises can be sustainable and gain competitive advantage. Based on this background, this study emphasized the importance of environmental involvement. Enterprise can improve its image through environmental involvement. Since enterprise image is a variable that directly impacts enterprise growth and performance, it promotes the sustainability of the enterprise. Therefore, this study aims to explore the improvement factors of environmental immersion and verified its influence.

Design/methodology/approach

This study focused on creating shared value as a factor to improve environmental involvement. It is divided into three components, which are economic values, social values and cooperative values, respectively. The role of these three factors in enhancing environmental involvement was clearly identified and the process of enhancing enterprise image was verified.

Findings

The mediating effect of environmental involvement on the relationship between creative shared values (economic values, social values and cooperative values) and enterprise image was demonstrated.

Originality/value

This study emphasized the importance of environmental immersion in the era of the fourth industrial revolution and provided a way to improve enterprise image, which is directly related to the sustainability of the enterprise.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. 52 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

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