An exploratory study of environmental practices in two Brazilian higher education institutions

• Autor(a) principal: Vieira, Karina Rabelo Ogasawara [UNESP]
• Data de Publicação: 2018
• Outros Autores: Battistelle, Rosane Aparecida Gomes [UNESP], Bezerra, Barbara Stolte [UNESP], Castro, Rosani de [UNESP], Jabbour, Charbel Jose Chiappetta, Deus, Rafael Mattos [UNESP]
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UNESP
• Texto Completo: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.03.260; http://hdl.handle.net/11449/179965
• topic: Environment; Environmental management systems; Higher education; Sustainability; University

This study aimed to identify the barriers and motivations that influence the adoption of sustainable practices in higher education institutions (HEIs). A multiple case study approach was used to analyze the influence of the barriers and motivations identified in the literature on two Brazilian HEIs. Five propositions were identified and discussed: Government Directives coercively boost the adoption of EMS practices in HEIs; stakeholders boost the adoption of EMS practices in HEIs; the combination of top-down and participatory approaches is essential for maintaining EMS practices in HEIs; the adoption of EMS practices in HEIs tends to face the challenges of several barriers; the adoption of EMS practices in HEIs tends to be motivated by a variety of factors. This study has certain limitations common to qualitative research: case studies do not provide generalizations, and research results are valid only within limited contexts. It was suggested further in-depth research into the role of bureaucracy in pursuing sustainability in HEIs. Additionally, “bureaucracy” should also be considered a significant barrier.