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Evaluating the engagement of universities in capacity building for sustainable development in local communities

Author

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  • Shiel, Chris
  • Leal Filho, Walter
  • do Paço, Arminda
  • Brandli, Luciana

Abstract

Universities have the potential to play a leading role in enabling communities to develop more sustainable ways of living and working however, sustainable communities may only emerge with facilitation, community learning and continual efforts to build their capacities. Elements of programme planning and evaluation on the one hand, and capacity building on the other, are needed. The latter entails approaches and processes that may contribute to community empowerment; universities may either lead such approaches, or be key partners in an endeavour to empower communities to address the challenges posed by the need for sustainable development. Although capacity building and the promotion of sustainable development locally, are on the agenda for universities who take seriously regional engagement, very little is published that illustrates or describes the various forms of activities that take place. Further, there is a paucity of studies that have evaluated the work performed by universities in building capacity for sustainable development at the local level. This paper is an attempt to address this need, and entails an empirical study based on a sample of universities in the United Kingdom, Germany, Portugal and Brazil. The paper examines the extent to which capacity building for sustainable development is being undertaken, suggests the forms that this might take and evaluates some of the benefits for local communities. The paper concludes by reinforcing that universities have a critical role to play in community development; that role has to prioritise the sustainability agenda.

Suggested Citation

  • Shiel, Chris & Leal Filho, Walter & do Paço, Arminda & Brandli, Luciana, 2016. "Evaluating the engagement of universities in capacity building for sustainable development in local communities," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 123-134.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:epplan:v:54:y:2016:i:c:p:123-134
    DOI: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2015.07.006
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    Cited by:

    1. Cifuentes-Faura, Javier & Faura-Martínez, Ursula & Lafuente-Lechuga, Matilde, 2024. "Evaluation of the concerns of Spanish university students in the face of current major challenges," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    2. Lovely S. Mores & Jeongwoo Lee & Woongkyoo Bae, 2019. "University-Community Partnerships: A Local Planning Co-Production Study on Calabarzon, Philippines," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-16, March.
    3. Chen Kim Lim & Martin Shafiihuna Haufiku & Kian Lam Tan & Minhaz Farid Ahmed & Theam Foo Ng, 2022. "Systematic Review of Education Sustainable Development in Higher Education Institutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-22, October.
    4. Sharifah Nurlaili Farhana Syed Azhar & Noor Adelyna Mohammed Akib & Suzyrman Sibly & Saidatulakmal Mohd, 2022. "Students’ Attitude and Perception towards Sustainability: The Case of Universiti Sains Malaysia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-17, March.
    5. Ruo-Lan Liu & Hsin-Chang Tsai, 2020. "Action Research to Enrich Learning from Conflict to Collaboration: Bridging the First-Year Students and the NGOs Agencies in Service Learning Program," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 33(3), pages 295-309, June.
    6. Ken Oyama & Ayari G. Pasquier & Edgar Mojica, 2018. "Transition to Sustainability in Macro-Universities: The Experience of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-16, December.
    7. Carla Farinha & Sandra Caeiro & Ulisses Azeiteiro, 2019. "Sustainability Strategies in Portuguese Higher Education Institutions: Commitments and Practices from Internal Insights," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-25, June.
    8. Jam Shahzaib Khan & Rozana Zakaria & Siti Mazzuana Shamsudin & Nur Izie Adiana Abidin & Shaza Rina Sahamir & Darul Nafis Abbas & Eeydzah Aminudin, 2019. "Evolution to Emergence of Green Buildings: A Review," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-20, January.
    9. Liana Badea & George Laurențiu Șerban-Oprescu & Silvia Dedu & Grigore Ioan Piroșcă, 2020. "The Impact of Education for Sustainable Development on Romanian Economics and Business Students’ Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-17, October.
    10. Rodriguez, Rocio & Svensson, Göran & Otero-Neira, Carmen, 2019. "Framing sustainable development through descriptive determinants in private hospitals – Orientation and organization," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 78-88.
    11. Symaco, Lorraine Pe & Tee, Meng Yew, 2019. "Social responsibility and engagement in higher education: Case of the ASEAN," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 184-192.
    12. Walter Leal Filho & João Henrique Paulino Pires Eustachio & Adriana Cristina Ferreira Caldana & Markus Will & Amanda Lange Salvia & Izabela S. Rampasso & Rosley Anholon & Johannes Platje & Marina Kova, 2020. "Sustainability Leadership in Higher Education Institutions: An Overview of Challenges," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-19, May.
    13. Bellandi, Marco & Donati, Letizia & Cataneo, Alessandra, 2021. "Social innovation governance and the role of universities: Cases of quadruple helix partnerships in Italy," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).

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