Feasibility Analysis Functions of Iranian Universities in Achieving Sustainability

Realization of sustainable development requires role-playing of various institutions in order to promote and institutionalize the values of sustainability. One of the important actors in the pursuit of this purpose is universities, and according to most of analysts, promotion of sustainability depends on the formation of sustainable universities. This study aimed to investigate the role and position of university in realizing sustainable development. For this purpose, the concept of sustainability and its dimensions and also the role of university in developing the values related to sustainability and empowerment of human resources were investigated through descriptive - analytic study and according to its results, in-depth interview was used to interview with ten experts in this field about how to realize this aim within the universities. Results showed that there is direct relationship between academic activities and promotion of the values of sustainability if structures and mechanisms of universities evolve purposively. In recent years, some universities have taken concrete steps in this regard, but at the Iranian universities, aside from some scattered efforts, the formation and development of activities related to sustainability were inadequate. So, only with accurate policies and targeted programs, it can be hoped to realize development based on the values of sustainability through the functions of universities.