Benchmarks Analysis of the Higher Education Institutions Participants of the GreenMetric World University Ranking

Abstract

The approach of the first concept of sustainable development released in the Brundtland report (The Brundtland report: “Our Common Future”. Oxford University Press, New York, 1987), has led to a global diffusion of important discussions concerning the environment until the present. Posteriorly, the significance of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to reach sustainability was noticed due to their role as educators and research potential. Numerous conferences, focusing on sustainability in HEIs took place in the post-Brundtland era, strengthening the need for joint work between society, governance and HEIs to achieve sustainability worldwide. However, the various possibilities of sustainable development actions presented in charters and declarations for sustainability in HEIs, since the 1980s have made their implementation a complex task. The UI GreenMetric World University Ranking (WUR) is one of the most recent evaluation tools of sustainability in HEIs, but with significant participation of private and public HEIs. Designed to engage HEIs from developed and developing countries, the tool encourages the continued pursuit of sustainable practices, healthy competition among HEIs, and even fosters financial investments from third parties. In this sense, therefore, the present work aimed to identify and compare the benchmarks of four-best ranked HEIs and of four Brazilian HEIs participants of the WUR. Through the benchmarking methodology, and with the support of the selected HEIs sustainable reports, divergences, and similarities were identified about the focus and importance given to the implementation of sustainable development initiatives of the HEIs. Also, the main strategies and practices adopted for these HEIs to be considered sustainable by the WUR were discussed through their benchmarks. In general, the four-best ranked HEIs direct their efforts towards structural changes, capital investment, actions with a long-term return, investments in alternative technologies, and students’ continuous and direct participation. On the other side, the four Brazilian HEIs have their central actions being implemented in infrastructural maintenance, exchange for more efficient equipment, campaigns of environmental awareness through email and social media, and other efforts with the short-term return. Based on the benchmarks analyses result, a final table was created with the related benchmarks of the selected HEIs, aimed to be used as a guide/first path, so that other HEIs can integrate sustainability in their organizations and strategies.