Environmental Education Performance Evaluation in a Higher Education Institution.

Abstract

The performance evaluation models proposed in the scientific literature to support the decision-making process in the context of sustainability in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) present gaps with respect to the design process. In relation, to the management of environmental education in HEIs, there is an absence of decision support models. In this context, the objective of the research is to build a model for evaluating the performance of environmental education for an undergraduate course at a public university. It is a case study, with data collection through interviews with the Course Coordinator, complemented by questionnaires and documental analysis. The intervention instrument used was the Multicriteria Methodology for Decision Aiding-Constructivist (MCDA-C). The main results were explored showing the process of building a performance evaluation model, considering the singularity of the context, the flexibility in the elaboration process and interactivity with different stakeholders. Additionally, efforts were focused on the presentation of the final assessment model, demonstrating the potential of the MCDA-C methodology as a practical tool to support the decision-making process, and on the discussion of the model developed in relation to the literature reviewed. The model built allows the decision maker to understand the environmental education intertwined with the course, to assess the current situation and the desired end state, as well as the necessary actions for its management. In addition to the constructivist perspective, the model meets the Stakeholder Theory; explains the advantages, using participatory approach methodologies and performance indicators have characteristics of a functional system.