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International Trends and Practices on Sustainability Reporting in Higher Education Institutions

Author

Listed:
  • Walter Leal Filho

    (European School of Sustainability Science and Research, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Ulmenliet 20, D-21033 Hamburg, Germany
    Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, UK)

  • Alfonso Coronado-Marín

    (UNESCO Chair ‘Environmental Education and Sustainable Development’, National University of Distance Education, 28015 Madrid, Spain)

  • Amanda Lange Salvia

    (Graduate Program in Civil and Environment Engineering, University of Passo Fundo, Campus I, BR 285, Passo Fundo 99052-900, Brazil)

  • Fernanda Frankenberger Silva

    (Business School PUCPR, Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, Curitiba 80215-901, Brazil
    Brazil Business School, Positivo University, Curitiba 81280-330, Brazil)

  • Franziska Wolf

    (European School of Sustainability Science and Research, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Ulmenliet 20, D-21033 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Todd LeVasseur

    (Sustainability Literacy Institute, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC 29424, USA)

  • Maria J. Kirrane

    (Environmental Research Institute (ERI), University College Cork, T23 XE10 Cork, Ireland)

  • Federica Doni

    (Department of Business and Law, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy)

  • Arminda Paço

    (NECE-UBI (Research Centre for Business Sciences), Universidade da Beira Interior, Rua Marquês D’Ávila e Bolama, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal)

  • Malgorzata Blicharska

    (Natural Resources and Sustainable Development, Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden)

  • Marina Schmitz

    (Coca-Cola Chair of Sustainable Development, IEDC-Bled School of Management, 4260 Bled, Slovenia)

  • Anselm T. Grahl

    (Students Organizing for Sustainability International, 1608 Copenhagen, Denmark)

  • Sara Moggi

    (Department of Business Administration, University of Verona, 37129 Verona, Italy)

Abstract

Sustainability reports are regarded as important tools in offering information about the environmental, social, economic, and institutional performance of an institution, and in demonstrating a commitment to matters related to sustainable development. But even though sustainability reporting has been used by a variety of higher education institutions to date, it is not as widely practiced as it should be. To further investigate this topic, a twofold approach was used: a study focusing on sustainability reporting approaches deployed in a sample of 30 universities across a set of countries; and a survey with a sample of 72 universities from different global regions to assess the extent to which they are deploying sustainability reporting as part of their activities. The scientific value of the paper resides in the fact that it offers a comprehensive overview of the subject matter of sustainability reporting, and how higher education institutions handle it. It also outlines the efforts in developing these documents which may catalyse further progress in this key area.

Suggested Citation

  • Walter Leal Filho & Alfonso Coronado-Marín & Amanda Lange Salvia & Fernanda Frankenberger Silva & Franziska Wolf & Todd LeVasseur & Maria J. Kirrane & Federica Doni & Arminda Paço & Malgorzata Blichar, 2022. "International Trends and Practices on Sustainability Reporting in Higher Education Institutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-17, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:19:p:12238-:d:926459
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

    1. Elena Marchigiani & Ilaria Garofolo, 2023. "Italian Universities for Territorial Sustainable Development and Responsible Communities—The Case Study of the University of Trieste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-20, January.

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