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Empowering Non-Academic Staff for the Implementation of Sustainability in Higher Education Institutions

Author

Listed:
  • Paula Bacelar-Nicolau

    (Centro de Estudos Globais, Departamento de Ciência e Tecnologia, Universidade Aberta, 1269-001 Lisboa, Portugal
    CFE-Centre for Functional Ecology, Universidade de Coimbra, 3040-256 Coimbra, Portugal)

  • Mahsa Mapar

    (Centro de Estudos Globais, Departamento de Ciência e Tecnologia, Universidade Aberta, 1269-001 Lisboa, Portugal
    CENSE-Center for Environmental and Sustainability Research & CHANGE—Global Change and Sustainability Institute, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, Caparica, 1099-085 Lisboa, Portugal)

  • Sandra Caeiro

    (Centro de Estudos Globais, Departamento de Ciência e Tecnologia, Universidade Aberta, 1269-001 Lisboa, Portugal
    CENSE-Center for Environmental and Sustainability Research & CHANGE—Global Change and Sustainability Institute, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, Caparica, 1099-085 Lisboa, Portugal)

  • Sara Moreno Pires

    (GOVCOPP-Research Unit on Governance, Competitiveness and Public Policies, Department of Social, Political and Territorial Sciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal)

  • Mariana Nicolau

    (GOVCOPP-Research Unit on Governance, Competitiveness and Public Policies, Department of Social, Political and Territorial Sciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal)

  • Catarina Madeira

    (GOVCOPP-Research Unit on Governance, Competitiveness and Public Policies, Department of Social, Political and Territorial Sciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal)

  • Marta Ferreira Dias

    (GOVCOPP-Research Unit on Governance, Competitiveness and Public Policies, Department of Economics, Management and Industrial Engineering and Tourism, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal)

  • Ana Paula Gomes

    (CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal)

  • Myriam Lopes

    (CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal)

  • Helena Nadais

    (CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal)

  • Georgios Malandrakis

    (Department of Education, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece)

Abstract

Sustainability within higher education institutions (HEIs) is a well-established topic in the literature. Many fields of education for sustainable development have been explored, mainly focused on HEI students, as well as on academic staff. The technical, administrative, and management staff, referred to as non-academic staff has not received as much attention as the remaining HEI community, which leaves a gap in the successful implementation of sustainability practices and policies, as they play a vital and central role in the HEIs’ everyday functioning. Hence, the EUSTEPs project launched two sustainability training courses dedicated exclusively to this segment of the university community, aiming to increase their knowledge on facts and tools for the best sustainability transition. The first short-term online training, organized by the University of Aveiro and Universidade Aberta, Portugal, was run in May 2021. The training targeted 27 non-academic staff from different sectors. The second online training course was implemented one year later and involved 17 elements from the previous training. The results showed very high levels of overall satisfaction and full achievement of the participants’ expectations in sustainability issues. The non-academic staff learned and discussed the human–environment relationship, tracked and discussed their personal ecological footprint in the workspace, actively participated on how to run the university ecological footprint calculator, developed within the EUSTEPs project, and felt mobilized to implement actions to reduce their university’s environmental impacts (as well as in their general daily activities). Similar training programs can be used to empower non-academic staff for the implementation of sustainability in other higher education institutions, hence contributing to a successful integrated sustainability approach for the whole school.

Suggested Citation

  • Paula Bacelar-Nicolau & Mahsa Mapar & Sandra Caeiro & Sara Moreno Pires & Mariana Nicolau & Catarina Madeira & Marta Ferreira Dias & Ana Paula Gomes & Myriam Lopes & Helena Nadais & Georgios Malandrak, 2023. "Empowering Non-Academic Staff for the Implementation of Sustainability in Higher Education Institutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-18, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:20:p:14818-:d:1258650
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Edwin E. Akins & Elizabeth Giddens & David Glassmeyer & Amy Gruss & Maria Kalamas Hedden & Vanessa Slinger-Friedman & Matthew Weand, 2019. "Sustainability Education and Organizational Change: A Critical Case Study of Barriers and Change Drivers at a Higher Education Institution," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-17, January.
    2. Lukas Scherak & Marco Rieckmann, 2020. "Developing ESD Competences in Higher Education Institutions—Staff Training at the University of Vechta," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-19, December.
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