Designing and Implementing Effective Campus Sustainability in Saudi Arabian Universities: An Assessment of Drivers and Barriers in a Rational Choice Theoretical Context

Mohammad A Alsharif,Timothy J Dixon,Michael D Peters

doi:10.3390/su12125096

Mohammad A Alsharif, Timothy J Dixon + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/su12125096

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Journal: Sustainability	Publication Date: Jun 23, 2020
Citations: 10	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Reading, Al Baha University

Abstract

Saudi Arabia is a developing country that is experiencing a rapid growth in its population and level of urbanisation. Higher education (HE) in the country has developed rapidly over the last ten years, and it is still moving through numerous major reforms. Largely, the concept of sustainability has not yet been formally adopted in public institutions in a way that could sufficiently remedy the range of activities that currently impact negatively on the environment. The central aim of this paper is to examine the extent to which planning and action for sustainability is currently being taken on university campuses in Saudi Arabia, and to review the opportunities and challenges for encouraging and enabling further progress to this end. The research that the paper draws on specifically investigated the influence of decision makers’ personal knowledge and perceptions within Facilities and Project Management (FPM) departments at selected Saudi universities, and the constraints faced by FPM decision makers with regard to the promotion of sustainability on campus. This exploration was supported by the development of a theoretical framework that draws on rational choice theory (RCT). The research revealed mixed levels of prevailing knowledge and awareness towards sustainability among FPM decision makers within the case study university campuses. Cost notably came across as a dominant influence on FPM decision makers’ choices and decisions, and it undoubtedly plays an important role in shaping the decision-making process alongside other key organisational factors. A number of barriers facing the incorporation of sustainability emerged with clarity, such as the lack of supportive leadership, the lack of sustainability knowledge and awareness among senior management and an absence of sustainability-related legislation policy or strategic direction in the HEIs concerned.

Highlights

University campuses can be viewed as important microcosms of the built environment that encompass a range of activities and settings
The majority of interview participants believed that taking note of—and implementing—sustainability is important to the daily activities and functioning of their universities
There is a notable lack of published literature and academic studies relating to campus sustainability in Saudi Arabia, in relation to exploring the fundamental issues around decision making and organisational settings

Summary

Introduction

University campuses can be viewed as important microcosms of the built environment that encompass a range of activities and settings. Together, they exert an influence on the natural environment due to their large size, substantial population and the complexity of activities that take place across their campuses [1]. Owing in a large part to the global awareness of the significant impact of campus operations and activities, there are many declarations for sustainability in HEIs that have already been signed up to by more than 1400 universities over the last two decades [3]. Universities can play an important role in the transition towards sustainability by addressing energy and water consumption and waste management, and by adopting recycling initiatives [5,6]

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