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Sustainability Assessment of Higher Education Institutions in Saudi Arabia

Author

Listed:
  • Habib M. Alshuwaikhat

    (Department of City and Regional Planning, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, KFUPM Box 1632, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia)

  • Yusuf A. Adenle

    (Department of City and Regional Planning, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, KFUPM Box 1632, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia)

  • Bilal Saghir

    (Department of City and Regional Planning, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, KFUPM Box 1632, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

Universities are paramount change drivers in bringing about a culture of sustainability in society by setting themselves up as models and nurseries for sustainable development. Thus, assessment of sustainability integration within universities is key to their impact on sustainable development. This study conducted an assessment of different public sector universities of Saudi Arabia based on five components: (i) Teaching and Curriculum; (ii) Research and Scholarship; (iii) Campus Operations; (iv) Management and Community; and (v) Financial Management. The sustainability assessment questionnaire (SAQ) was utilized as a tool to discern the component-wise sustainability assessment for Saudi universities. The outcomes of the survey reveal that, in stark contrast with the universities of the developed world, offerings of sustainability relevant academic courses in Saudi Arabia are still lacking. Most Saudi universities still need to integrate research and scholarship in the area of sustainability; sustainable-campus operations in the current scenario are not sufficient. The results also reveal that sustainability-related projects are not prioritized within universities and sustainable financial management practices are not significant. This article concludes by proposing some recommendations emphasizing the importance of adopting sustainability practices in Saudi universities.

Suggested Citation

  • Habib M. Alshuwaikhat & Yusuf A. Adenle & Bilal Saghir, 2016. "Sustainability Assessment of Higher Education Institutions in Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(8), pages 1-16, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:8:y:2016:i:8:p:750-:d:75330
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Yusuf A. Adenle & Habib M. Alshuwaikhat, 2017. "Spatial Estimation and Visualization of CO 2 Emissions for Campus Sustainability: The Case of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-15, November.
    3. Reda M. S. Abdulaal & Anas A. Makki & Isam Y. Al-Filali, 2023. "A Novel Hybrid Approach for Prioritizing Investment Initiatives to Achieve Financial Sustainability in Higher Education Institutions Using MEREC-G and RATMI," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-18, August.
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    5. Daniela De Filippo & Leyla Angélica Sandoval-Hamón & Fernando Casani & Elías Sanz-Casado, 2019. "Spanish Universities’ Sustainability Performance and Sustainability-Related R&D+I," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-21, October.
    6. Mohammad A. Alsharif & Michael D. Peters & Timothy J. Dixon, 2020. "Designing and Implementing Effective Campus Sustainability in Saudi Arabian Universities: An Assessment of Drivers and Barriers in a Rational Choice Theoretical Context," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-23, June.
    7. Jacqueline Bailão da Silva Lopes & Thiago Almeida Vieira, 2021. "Sustainable University: From the Worldwide Conception to the Brazilian Amazonia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-31, September.
    8. Esther Salmerón-Manzano & Francisco Manzano-Agugliaro, 2018. "The Higher Education Sustainability through Virtual Laboratories: The Spanish University as Case of Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-22, November.
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    11. Ismaila Rimi Abubakar & Yusuf A. Aina & Habib M. Alshuwaikhat, 2020. "Sustainable Development at Saudi Arabian Universities: An Overview of Institutional Frameworks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-15, September.
    12. Nadia Yusuf, 2017. "Changes Required in Saudi Universities Curriculum to Meet the Demands of 2030 Vision," International Journal of Economics and Finance, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 9(9), pages 111-116, September.
    13. 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.
    14. 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.
    15. Sadia Akhtar & Kashif Ullah Khan & Fouzia Atlas & Muhammad Irfan, 2022. "Stimulating student’s pro-environmental behavior in higher education institutions: an ability–motivation–opportunity perspective," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 4128-4149, March.
    16. Ragab Rabeiy & Saud Almutairi & Ahmed Birima & Lamyaa Kassem & Ayman Nafady, 2023. "A Cross-Sectional Study of Knowledge, Practice, and Management of Solid Waste Segregation in Higher Educational Institutes: A Case Study in KSA," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-16, March.
    17. Bandar Alkhayyal & Wafa Labib & Talal Alsulaiman & Abdelhakim Abdelhadi, 2019. "Analyzing Sustainability Awareness among Higher Education Faculty Members: A Case Study in Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-13, December.
    18. Abdulrahim Zaher Meshari & Majed Bin Othayman & Frederic Boy & Daniele Doneddu, 2021. "The Impact of Learning Organizations Dimensions on the Organisational Performance: An Exploring Study of Saudi Universities," International Business Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 14(2), pages 1-54, February.
    19. Habib M. Alshuwaikhat & Ismaila R. Abubakar & Yusuf A. Aina & Yusuf A. Adenle & Muhammad Umair, 2017. "The Development of a GIS-Based Model for Campus Environmental Sustainability Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-23, March.
    20. Mercedes Gaitán-Angulo & Melva Inés Gómez-Caicedo & Maritza Torres-Samuel & Adriana Correa-Guimaraes & Luis Manuel Navas-Gracia & Carmen Luisa Vásquez-Stanescu & Rodrigo Ramírez-Pisco & Marisabel Luna, 2022. "Sustainability as an Emerging Paradigm in Universities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-23, February.
    21. Aroub Alnasser & Nsreen Musallat, 2022. "Food Sustainability Knowledge among Saudis: Towards the Goals of Saudi Vision 2030," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-17, September.

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