Abstract
Integrating sustainability within institutions of higher education can have a tremendous impact on students, faculty, and the larger community. Sustainability efforts also experience many barriers to implementation within higher education contexts. A change management perspective can help characterize these barriers and ways to overcome them. In this critical case study, we use a process model to examine the kinds of barriers Kennesaw State University (KSU) has faced regarding implementation of academic sustainability and to evaluate change drivers that can advance sustainability during a time of leadership change. The process model evaluates barriers and change drivers according to published frameworks, and provides a way for higher education institutions to identify the most difficult barriers, easily surmountable barriers, and areas where change drivers can have the most impact. At KSU, the process model identified the self-determination of middle-tier change drivers as the most important way to advance sustainable development in higher education institutions (SD in HEI) until new leadership emerges. The process model is iterative and modifiable, because the specific frameworks used in the process model may vary depending upon the needs of each HEI and stage of progression toward SD.
Highlights
Sustainable development in higher education institutions (SD in HE institutions (HEIs), a synonym of education for sustainability, EfS) presents distinct challenges, which require an understanding of the inherent, multi-faceted complexity of sustainability and the interdisciplinary nature of the subject matter
Once the research team observed that barriers specific to Kennesaw State University (KSU) often included all three elements from Verhulst and Lambrechts, it organized the list so that the multiple dimensions of each barrier at KSU would be captured
KSU-specific barriers appeared in the far-left column, and the relevant elements from Verhulst and Lambrechts (V & L) were noted in the three left-hand columns. (V & L cells without any text indicate that they were not relevant to KSU barriers; these were marked with an X.) In response to the barriers, current actions by the KSU sustainability community were included in the three right-hand columns
Summary
Sustainable development in higher education institutions (SD in HEI, a synonym of education for sustainability, EfS) presents distinct challenges, which require an understanding of the inherent, multi-faceted complexity of sustainability and the interdisciplinary nature of the subject matter. HEIs, like other organizations, rely on effective leadership to promote a sustainability culture. HEIs often face barriers and obstacles when it comes to SD such as being perceived as an abstract idea espoused by environmental and social activists, seeming disconnected from the institution’s strategic objectives, and lacking resources and/or administrative support for implementation. One of these stumbling blocks, the absence of forward-looking transformative leadership, is especially detrimental to SD. Leaders in HEIs can encourage or stifle employees’ sustainability efforts through their leadership practices
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
