Measuring Commitment to Sustainability: Proposal of Performance Indicators for a Public University in Northeast Brazil

Abstract

Objective: This study discusses sustainability indicators for HEIs and presents a proposal for a set of indicators for a public University in the Brazilian Northeast. Theoretical framework: The assessment of sustainability in higher education institutions (HEIs) has been the subject of scientific discussions over the last few years, as just the application of strategies that promote sustainability is not enough to affirm that the institution is sustainable or not. This study includes assessment instruments already consolidated in the literature and the importance of environmentalizing universities. Method: The study employs a methodological approach that proposes and validates sustainability indicators for the university studied, totaling 171 indicators in 11 categories. Results: Based on the assessment instruments identified in the literature, 171 indicators distributed in 11 categories were proposed and validated, which can form a sustainability assessment instrument for the university in this study. Most of the indicators identified were considered compatible and applicable to the reality of this university institution. Implications of the research: The study highlights the need to expand sustainability assessment practices in HEIs, pointing to the importance of sustainability reports as a way of communicating socio-environmental commitment. Originality/value: The research fills a gap by proposing specific sustainability indicators for a public university in the Northeast of Brazil, contributing to the construction of a contextualized assessment instrument for the institution. Furthermore, it highlights the scarcity of studies on sustainability assessment in universities, especially in the Brazilian context.