IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v12y2020i2p479-d306437.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Bridging Intellectual Capital, Sustainable Development and Quality of Life in Higher Education Institutions

Author

Listed:
  • Eugénia de Matos Pedro

    (Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, NECE–Research Center in Business Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6200-001 Covilhã, Portugal)

  • João Leitão

    (Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, NECE–Research Center in Business Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6200-001 Covilhã, Portugal
    CEG-IST and ICS, University of Lisbon, 1649-004 Lisboa, Portugal)

  • Helena Alves

    (Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, NECE–Research Center in Business Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6200-001 Covilhã, Portugal)

Abstract

This paper analyses the relationship between the intellectual capital of higher education institutions (HEIs) and their sustainable development practices, and assesses whether higher education institutions’ sustainable development practices are related to their stakeholders’ quality of life. Using a structural equation model, two model specifications are estimated, gathering primary data from a convenience sample composed of 738 full-time students and 587 teachers/researchers at seven Portuguese higher education institutions. The findings reveal that intellectual capital influences sustainable development practices directly and positively, whereas sustainable development practices influence students’ quality of life in a significant way, although the same is not verified for teachers/researchers. These findings provide insightful implications for policy-making and intellectual capital management for practices in higher education institutions; firstly, by showing that the sustainable development concept is associated with HEIs’ practices of economic, environmental, social and organisational sustainability; secondly, by concluding that public Portuguese HEIs need to improve the social dimension of their sustainable development practices, and here there may be room for improvement in the institution through better and more proficient social engagement that is more directed to the challenges of sustainability and social change; and thirdly, by showing that the inclusion of better sustainable practices has repercussions on the quality of life of all stakeholders.

Suggested Citation

  • Eugénia de Matos Pedro & João Leitão & Helena Alves, 2020. "Bridging Intellectual Capital, Sustainable Development and Quality of Life in Higher Education Institutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-27, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:2:p:479-:d:306437
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/2/479/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/2/479/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. César Tapia-Fonllem & Blanca Fraijo-Sing & Víctor Corral-Verdugo & Anais Ortiz Valdez, 2017. "Education for Sustainable Development in Higher Education Institutions," SAGE Open, , vol. 7(1), pages 21582440166, January.
    2. M. Sirgy & Dong-Jin Lee & Stephan Grzeskowiak & Grace Yu & Dave Webb & Karma El-Hasan & Jose Jesus Garcia Vega & Ahmet Ekici & J. Johar & Anjala Krishen & Ayca Kangal & Bernhard Swoboda & C. Claiborne, 2010. "Quality of College Life (QCL) of Students: Further Validation of a Measure of Well-being," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 99(3), pages 375-390, December.
    3. M. Sirgy & Terri Cornwell, 2001. "Further Validation of the Sirgy et al.'s Measure of Community Quality of Life," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 56(2), pages 125-143, November.
    4. Sevda Arslan & Ozlem Akkas, 2014. "Quality of College Life (QCL) of Students in Turkey: Students’ Life Satisfaction and Identification," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 115(2), pages 869-884, January.
    5. Ed Diener & Eunkook Suh, 1997. "Measuring Quality Of Life: Economic, Social, And Subjective Indicators," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 40(1), pages 189-216, January.
    6. Antonio Ariza-Montes & Gabriele Giorgi & Felipe Hernández-Perlines & Javier Fiz-Perez, 2019. "Decent Work as a Necessary Condition for Sustainable Well-Being. A Tale of Pi(i)gs and Farmers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-19, February.
    7. M. Sirgy & Stephan Grzeskowiak & Don Rahtz, 2007. "Quality of College Life (QCL) of Students: Developing and Validating a Measure of Well-Being," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 80(2), pages 343-360, January.
    8. Rocco Frondizi & Chiara Fantauzzi & Nathalie Colasanti & Gloria Fiorani, 2019. "The Evaluation of Universities’ Third Mission and Intellectual Capital: Theoretical Analysis and Application to Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-23, June.
    9. Grace (Byung-Hee) Yu & Dong-Jin Lee, 2008. "A Model of Quality of College Life (QCL) of Students in Korea," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 87(2), pages 269-285, June.
    10. José Manuel Madeira Belbute & João Marques & Jorge Carvalho & Eduardo Anselmo Castro & Maria Luis Pinto & Pedro Gomes, 2009. "Qualidade de Vida: Uma análise à escala local," Economics Working Papers 03_2009, University of Évora, Department of Economics (Portugal).
    11. Florian Findler & Norma Schönherr & Rodrigo Lozano & Barbara Stacherl, 2018. "Assessing the Impacts of Higher Education Institutions on Sustainable Development—An Analysis of Tools and Indicators," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-19, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Daniel A. Salas & Paulina Criollo & Angel D. Ramirez, 2021. "The Role of Higher Education Institutions in the Implementation of Circular Economy in Latin America," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-27, August.
    2. Alexandru Sebastian Lazarov & Augustin Semenescu, 2022. "Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Romanian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) within the SDGs Framework," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-13, February.
    3. Eugénia de Matos Pedro & João Leitão & Helena Alves, 2021. "HEI Efficiency and Quality of Life: Seeding the Pro-Sustainability Efficiency," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-25, January.
    4. AlQershi, Nagwan & Saufi, Roselina Binti Ahmad & Ismail, Noor Azizi & Mohamad, Mohd Rosli Bin & Ramayah, T. & Muhammad, Nik Maheran Nik & Yusoff, Mohd Nor Hakimin Bin, 2023. "The moderating role of market turbulence beyond the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine crisis on the relationship between intellectual capital and business sustainability," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 186(PB).
    5. Sema Yılmaz Genç & Harun Sesen & Rui Alexandre Castanho & Dervis Kirikkaleli & Semih Soran, 2020. "Transforming Turkish Universities to Entrepreneurial Universities for Sustainability: From Strategy to Practice," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-18, February.
    6. Fieras Alfawaire & Tarik Atan, 2021. "The Effect of Strategic Human Resource and Knowledge Management on Sustainable Competitive Advantages at Jordanian Universities: The Mediating Role of Organizational Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-35, July.
    7. Yusuf A. Adenle & Edwin H. W. Chan & Yi Sun & C.K. Chau, 2020. "Modifiable Campus-Wide Appraisal Model (MOCAM) for Sustainability in Higher Education Institutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-19, August.
    8. Haiying Xu & Wei-Ling Hsu & Teen-Hang Meen & Ju Hua Zhu, 2020. "Can Higher Education, Economic Growth and Innovation Ability Improve Each Other?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-18, March.
    9. Muhammad Nawaz Tunio & Mushtaque Ali Jariko & Tom Børsen & Sadia Shaikh & Tania Mushtaque & Mohsen Brahmi, 2021. "How Entrepreneurship Sustains Barriers in the Entrepreneurial Process—A Lesson from a Developing Nation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-17, October.
    10. Sakir Cinkir & Sevgi Yildiz & Gul Kurum, 2022. "The Effect of Undergraduate Students’ Perceived Service Quality on Student Commitment," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, May.
    11. Pavel Krpálek & Kateřina Berková & Andrea Kubišová & Katarína Krpálková Krelová & Dagmar Frendlovská & Daniela Spiesová, 2021. "Formation of Professional Competences and Soft Skills of Public Administration Employees for Sustainable Professional Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-17, May.
    12. Amila Omazic & Bernd Markus Zunk, 2021. "Semi-Systematic Literature Review on Sustainability and Sustainable Development in Higher Education Institutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-45, July.
    13. Wilder Quintero-Quintero & Ana Beatriz Blanco-Ariza & Manuel Alfonso Garzón-Castrillón, 2021. "Intellectual Capital: A Review and Bibliometric Analysis," Publications, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-23, October.
    14. Milad Bagheri & Ku Azam Tuan Lonik & Mastura Jaafar & Radziah Adam & Wan Izatul Asma Wan Talaat & Isabelle D. Wolf, 2022. "Integrating Social, Economic, and Environmental Factors to Evaluate How Competitive Urban Landscapes Are for the Development of Sustainable Cities: Penang Island in Malaysia as a Case Study," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-27, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Matilde Bini & Lucio Masserini, 2016. "Students’ Satisfaction and Teaching Efficiency of University Offer," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 129(2), pages 847-862, November.
    2. Sevda Arslan & Ozlem Akkas, 2014. "Quality of College Life (QCL) of Students in Turkey: Students’ Life Satisfaction and Identification," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 115(2), pages 869-884, January.
    3. Graciela H. Tonon, 2021. "Student’s Quality of Life at the University: a Qualitative Study," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 16(4), pages 1517-1535, August.
    4. M. Sirgy & Dong-Jin Lee & Stephan Grzeskowiak & Grace Yu & Dave Webb & Karma El-Hasan & Jose Jesus Garcia Vega & Ahmet Ekici & J. Johar & Anjala Krishen & Ayca Kangal & Bernhard Swoboda & C. Claiborne, 2010. "Quality of College Life (QCL) of Students: Further Validation of a Measure of Well-being," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 99(3), pages 375-390, December.
    5. Oliviero Carboni & Paolo Russu, 2015. "Assessing Regional Wellbeing in Italy: An Application of Malmquist–DEA and Self-organizing Map Neural Clustering," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 122(3), pages 677-700, July.
    6. Shehu Muhammad & Maimunah Sapri & Ibrahim Sipan, 2014. "Academic Buildings and Their Influence on Students’ Wellbeing in Higher Education Institutions," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 115(3), pages 1159-1178, February.
    7. Primiano Di Nauta & Enrica Iannuzzi & Michele Milone & Claudio Nigro, 2020. "The Impact of the Sustainability Principles on the Strategic Planning and Reporting of Universities. An Exploratory Study on a Qualified Italian Sample," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-21, September.
    8. Sudi Randa & Syafruddin Chan & T. Roli Ilhamsyah Putra, 2024. "Testing the Mediation Effect of Quality of College Life (QLC) on the Influence of Satisfaction of Educational and Administrative Services on Loyalty of Polytechnic Students," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 8(5), pages 1501-1512, May.
    9. Jing Xiao & Chuanyi Tang & Soyeon Shim, 2009. "Acting for Happiness: Financial Behavior and Life Satisfaction of College Students," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 92(1), pages 53-68, May.
    10. Terry Besser & Nancy Miller & Roshan Malik, 2012. "Community Amenity Measurement for the Great Fly-Over Zones," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 106(2), pages 393-405, April.
    11. Cristina Bernini & Andrea Guizzardi & Giovanni Angelini, 2013. "DEA-Like Model and Common Weights Approach for the Construction of a Subjective Community Well-Being Indicator," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 114(2), pages 405-424, November.
    12. Albino Prada-Blanco & Patricio Sanchez-Fernandez, 2017. "Empirical Analysis of the Transformation of Economic Growth into Social Development at an International Level," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 130(3), pages 983-1003, February.
    13. M. Sirgy & Robin Widgery & Dong-Jin Lee & Grace Yu, 2010. "Developing a Measure of Community Well-Being Based on Perceptions of Impact in Various Life Domains," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 96(2), pages 295-311, April.
    14. Mouratidis, Kostas & Ettema, Dick & Næss, Petter, 2019. "Urban form, travel behavior, and travel satisfaction," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 306-320.
    15. Faiz Muhammad Khuwaja & Waheed Ali Umrani & Sanober Salman Shaikh & Ammar Ahmed & Sanaullah Shar, 2019. "University Markor: A Context-Specific Scale to Measure Market-Orientation in Universities," SAGE Open, , vol. 9(2), pages 21582440198, June.
    16. Agnieszka Wojewódzka-Wiewiórska & Anna Kłoczko-Gajewska & Piotr Sulewski, 2019. "Between the Social and Economic Dimensions of Sustainability in Rural Areas—In Search of Farmers’ Quality of Life," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-26, December.
    17. Robertico Croes & Jeong-Yeol Park & Jorge Bonilla, 2024. "Tourism and Resident Well-Being: Balancing Economic Gains, Social Dynamics, and Environmental Challenges Across Urban and Rural Divides," Tourism and Hospitality, MDPI, vol. 5(4), pages 1-19, November.
    18. Yixuan Liu & Liumeng Li & Guomei Miao & Xinyan Yang & Yinghui Wu & Yanling Xu & Yonghong Gao & Yongzhi Zhan & Yiwei Zhong & Shujuan Yang, 2021. "Relationship between Children’s Intergenerational Emotional Support and Subjective Well-Being among Middle-Aged and Elderly People in China: The Mediation Role of the Sense of Social Fairness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-12, December.
    19. Emilio Colombo & Alessandra Michelangeli & Luca Stanca, 2014. "La Dolce Vita : Hedonic Estimates of Quality of Life in Italian Cities," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 48(8), pages 1404-1418, August.
    20. Marco Grasso & Luciano Canova, 2008. "An Assessment of the Quality of Life in the European Union Based on the Social Indicators Approach," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 87(1), pages 1-25, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:2:p:479-:d:306437. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.