Sustainable Transformation Research Articles

Advancing sustainable entrepreneurial universities: sustainability transformations of university business incubators in Germany

Given the profound environmental and societal challenges, many higher education institutions (HEI) have adopted sustainability as a central mission to induce desirable societal impacts. While previous research investigated the transformation processes of HEIs toward sustainability, few studies took an explicit entrepreneurial perspective and questioned its implications for the Entrepreneurial University (EU) model. To address this gap, our study explores the emergence and pursuit of a Sustainable Entrepreneurial University (SEU). We specifically focus on the role of sustainable university business incubators (UBIs) as primary institutions of entrepreneurship within the SEU model. Using a multiple-case study of four German UBIs, we illustrate how they embarked on their sustainability journey, developed internal capacities to support sustainable entrepreneurship, and overcame various barriers during their transformation trajectories. Our analysis identifies six distinct sustainability transformation stages and proposes a stylized model to explain the emergence of sustainability in UBIs. Based on these findings, our study discusses several theoretical implications for the SEU. We illustrate that SEU sustainability impacts evolve over time and that continuous leadership commitment is a mediating factor. Moreover, our results suggest that SEUs strategically engage in external partnerships with alternating functions. Given the urgency to promote sustainable entrepreneurship in HEIs, the study concludes with several practical recommendations for practitioners and policymakers. Moreover, it offers suggestions for future research to explore the potential of SEUs and their contribution to addressing pressing societal and ecological challenges.

Contexts: Research Articles Publisher's statement Methodological Pluralism in Practice: A systemic design approach for place-based sustainability transformations

To leverage the fullest potential of systemic design research in real-world contexts, more diverse and reflexive approaches are necessary. Especially for addressing the place-based and unpredictable nature of sustainability transformations, scholars across disciplines caution that standard research strategies and methods often fall short. While systemic design promotes concepts such as holism, plurality, and emergence, more insight is necessary for translating these ideas into practices for engaging in complex, real-world applications. Reflexivity is crucial to understanding these implications, and systemic design practice will benefit from a deeper discourse on the relationships between researchers, contexts, and methods. In this study, we offer an illustrated example of applying a diverse and reflexive systems oriented design approach that engaged three mountain communities undergoing sustainability transformations. Based on a longitudinal, comparative research project, a combination of methods from systemic design, social science, education, and embodied practices was developed and prototyped across three mountain regions: Ostana, Italy; Hemsedal, Norway; and Mammoth Lakes, California. The selection of these regions was influenced by the researchers’ varying levels of previous engagement. Reflexivity was used to explore how place-based relationships influenced the researchers’ interactions with each community. Different modes of reflexivity were used to analyze the contextual, relational, and boundary-related factors that shaped how the framing, format, and communication of each method and practice adapted over time. We discuss these findings through visualizations and narrative examples to translate abstract concepts like emergence and plurality into actionable insights. This study contributes to systemic design research by showing how a reflexive approach of weaving across different places, methods, and worldviews supports the critical facilitation processes needed to apply and advance methodological plurality in practice.

ESG-стратегия управления устойчивой цифровой трансформацией бизнеса в экономике искусственного интеллекта

Introduction: the subject area under the study is managing digital business transformation, with the focus on adapting Russian business to the modern context of the artificial intelligence (AI) economy, namely, to a new model of organizing the Russian economic system, the specificity of which is the mass dissemination of AI technologies. Objectives: to develop an ESG strategy for managing sustainable digital business transformation in the artificial intelligence economy. Methods: based on international experience and official statistics for 2022, using the method of regression analysis, the authors compiled an econometric model that mathematically described the influence of the global AI index components on the trade sustainability index. Results: a scientific argumentation has been developed for criticizing the existing strategy for managing digital transformation of business in terms of its sustainability. The market position of a business and its financial well-being are found to be improving to the detriment of society and the environment. As an alternative, ESG management is proposed, ensuring the balanced development of nature, society, economy, and technology. The prospects for sustainable digital business transformation in the Russian AI economy through Pareto-optimization of ESG management has been disclosed. An improved ESG strategy has been developed, the specific feature of which being reliance on integration mechanisms and the focus on infrastructure projects in the AI economy. The proposed strategy scope of application is digital transformation management in the Russian businesses practice. The advantage of the ESG strategy is that it ensures the business system stability in the process of its digital transformation through the unified implementation of the SDGs, the sanction stability and sustainability of positions in the global markets. Conclusions: it is concluded that development of infrastructure support for the artificial intelligence economy is the basis for sustainable digital transformation of business. Maintaining sustainability of the business in this process needs using ESG management to help introduce AI technologies.

Sustainable Transformation in South African Rural Universities: A Digital Perspective Authors

Sustainable Transformation in South African Rural Universities: A Digital Perspective Authors

Продуктовий ритейл в Україні: тенденції та наслідки кризових трансформацій продовольчої системи

Sustainable transformations in some segments of the food system, which have recently occurred due to military conflicts, extreme climate events and epidemics, necessitate their in-depth study. Ensuring the population's physical and economic access to food to a certain extent depends on food retail (domestic retail trade), which, together with other components of the food system, has undergone transformation and requires an assessment of development trends. The article aims to identify development trends and transformations that occurred from 2012 to 2021 in Ukraine's food retail industry as a component of the food system. The study used general scientific and special methods: dialectical and logical to summarize the scientific basis for identifying transformations in food retail; economic-statistical – for processing and analyzing statistical data; tabular and graphical – for visualizing and summarizing the research results. The authors summarize conceptual approaches to the interpretation and essence of transformations in food systems and features of the formation of modern food policy. The differences in food retail transformations in modern and traditional food systems were revealed. Trends in the development and transformation of food retail during 2012-2021 were identified, including changes in the quantitative structure of stores and retail space, turnover volumes, profitability of trade, volumes of consumption of basic food products, consumer prices, etc. With the advent of Internet commerce, qualitative changes have occurred in serving consumers, mainly through creating online goods delivery services, mobile applications, and social networks. Using innovative food retail management technologies increases the efficiency of trade operations and improves product supply. As a result of the transformation of consumer priorities, health and sports nutrition stores and farm products have become stores with a focus on their safety and quality.

Information-based Integration of Life Cycle Assessment into IT Landscapes of Manufacturing Companies

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is one of the fundamental methods to facilitate effective decisions in sustainability transformation. However, the current implementation of LCA is inefficient due to detached software applications and manual data imports. Utilizing data from existing information systems offers the potential for a significant increase in efficiency. Existing approaches focus on prototypical implementations with a high level of detail but low transferability, or approaches only consider integration at the system level, whereby practical applicability is reduced. Therefore, this paper presents an information-based framework for integrating LCA software into the existing IT landscape of manufacturing companies with focusing on generic functions and a detailed information flow. The generic approach enables transferability, while the detailed information flows allow practical applicability.

Study on the Transformation of China's Economic Growth Mode and Growth Sustainability

Study on the Transformation of China's Economic Growth Mode and Growth Sustainability

Towards a Sustainable Digital Manufacturing: A State of Art

In recent years, the growing significance of digital transformation (DT) in the manufacturing sector, particularly in the context of sustainability, has attracted considerable attention from researchers and practitioners alike. The potential benefits of DT in various domains and applications within the manufacturing industry are substantial. However, despite an increasing number of scholarly articles addressing DT adoption, there remains a notable research gap characterized by a lack of comprehensive and systematic overviews that examine the implemented DT solutions and their impact on sustainability. This review aims to bridge this gap by conducting an in-depth investigation into the role of DT in driving sustainable practices within the manufacturing sector. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol is proposed to present a state-of-the-art analysis of the role of DT in fostering sustainability in manufacturing. The main results highlight benefits, opportunities, and risks associated with DT as enabling factor in the sustainable and digital transformation of manufacturing companies. Furthermore, implications and outlines for future research in this domain are discussed.

Enterprise Architecture Challenges and Opportunities in Higher Education Institutions: A Case Study from Saudi Arabia

Enterprise Architecture (EA) practices are accepted worldwide to enable digital transformation and deal with the complexity of business and IT alignment in socio-technical organizations. It is a growing trend, and research efforts are devoted to facilitating its effective adoption in public and private organizations. However, little EA research has focused on its implementation in the higher education sector. This interpretive case study paper highlights the challenges Al-Baha University -a higher education institution from Saudi Arabia- faced while developing its EA. Al-Baha University is the first Saudi university to develop its EA according to the standards and regulations of the Digital Government Authority in Saudi Arabia. Solutions and recommendations to overcome these challenges are presented to provide insights to local and international universities on how they can deal with the challenges associated with EA implementations in this sector. These insights would also assist other organizations to ensure more effective and sustainable digital transformation journeys from an EA perspective.

Application of improved K-means algorithm in the cultivation of creative music talents under the needs of sustainable development and transformation

Application of improved K-means algorithm in the cultivation of creative music talents under the needs of sustainable development and transformation

Transition énergétique et environnementale : Perspectives et Défis

Today, there are significant challenges associated with the excessive use of fossil fuels, economic growth, sustainable development, and environmental protection in the world. These challenges affect production and consumption, particularly impacting the environment, pollution levels, waste generation, and resource depletion. Addressing these issues is crucial for fostering social well-being and managing economic costs. This article aims to explore the concept of the green economy, climate change, greenhouse gases, the Kuznets Curve, and environmental economics as essential frameworks for navigating towards a sustainable future. By analyzing the interplay between economic activities and environmental consequences, it seeks to highlight the urgency of transitioning to models that prioritize social equity, resource efficiency, and environmental sustainability. Through this exploration, the article aims to provide insights and recommendations for policymakers, businesses, and individuals to contribute effectively to a sustainable energy transition and environmental transformation.

Providing the EFQM Model for Improving Preschool Education in Shiraz

This research aimed to introduce a suitable EFQM (European Foundation for Quality Management) organizational excellence model for preschool education in the city of Shiraz. The research method was a mixed-method approach (qualitative-quantitative), and the statistical population included scientific, qualitative, and quantitative documents. The qualitative section comprised university experts (n = 21), while the quantitative section included a sample of 97 university experts. Non-random snowball sampling was used for the qualitative section, and cross-sectional random sampling was employed for the quantitative section. Data collection tools included coding, semi-structured interviews, and a researcher-made questionnaire. Qualitative data were analyzed using grounded theory, while a t-test was used for quantitative data analysis. The findings identified the dimensions and key components of an appropriate organizational excellence model for preschool education, which included objectives, vision and strategy, organizational culture and leadership, stakeholder engagement, sustainable value creation, performance improvement and transformation, stakeholder perspectives, and strategic and operational outcomes.

Application of improved K-means algorithm in the cultivation of creative music talents under the needs of sustainable development and transformation

Application of improved K-means algorithm in the cultivation of creative music talents under the needs of sustainable development and transformation

Research on the Sustainable Development and Educational Transformation Model of College Students in the New Era

Research on the Sustainable Development and Educational Transformation Model of College Students in the New Era

Sustainable Societal Transformation: Shaping Renewable Energy Technologies in Transport

Traditional transportation systems are increasingly scrutinized for their environmental footprint, driving the need for sustainable alternatives. Recent developments in renewable energy technologies have paved the way for Electric Vehicles, Hydrogen Fuel Cells, Biofuels, Solar-Powered Vehicles, and Hybrid Systems, all of which offer environmentally-friendly solutions. However, the successful integration of these technologies into existing transport systems presents challenges such as infrastructure development, policymaking, public perception, and societal acceptance. Sustainable transportation encompasses more than technology and economics. It addresses societal inclusivity, environmental conservation, and long-term viability. Social equality ensures equitable access to transport, economic considerations highlight short-term costs and long-term benefits, and health and well-being are affected by sustainable transportation patterns. Community engagement, though challenging, is essential to craft locally tailored solutions and foster a collective sense of ownership. These facets form the foundation for a greener, healthier, and more inclusive transport system. The global shift towards renewable transport technologies is multifaceted, integrating political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal dimensions. Using the PESTEL method, the complex transition towards renewable transport technologies can be understood, especially in contexts like Ukraine. Given its unique socio-political landscape, Ukraine's move towards sustainable transport is influenced by multiple factors, including international climate agreements, economic restructuring, public perception, and technological advancements. Ukraine's transport sector, heavily reliant on fossil fuels, has the potential to transform using its abundant renewable resources. Tapping into these resources can offer numerous benefits, though technological and infrastructural challenges persist. Strategic investments and embracing renewable technologies are key for Ukraine to build a sustainable transport and societal framework.

The influence of changes in a regulatory framework on shaping ecologically sustainable business transformation: insights from worldwide case studies

The influence of changes in a regulatory framework on shaping ecologically sustainable business transformation: insights from worldwide case studies

Greening up organic reactions with caffeine: applications, recent developments, and future directions.

Numerous studies in the field of alkaloid chemistry have provided researchers with valuable insights into their unique properties as catalysts. Among the diverse natural catalysts, caffeine has emerged as a green, expedient, and biodegradable catalyst with high efficiency and applicability. Interest in using caffeine as a catalyst has burgeoned over the past few years with its role in diverse multicomponent reactions. Preparation of its imidazolium salts and further conversion to Nitrogen Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) ligands and ionic liquids offers new paradigms. Caffeine has also played a multifaceted role as a support material in influencing the structural properties of nanoparticles. We hope that the chemistry of caffeine and its applications for sustainable organic transformations discussed in this review will stimulate new thinking and open new avenues in this field.

Understanding the characteristics of the household energy transition in a developing country

Understanding the energy transition process in developing countries is crucial to implement policies to reduce the use of traditional fossil fuel-based energy sources, which increase pollution, worsen global climate change, and negatively impact people's health. Existing literature indicates that households account for approximately 25% of total energy consumption for consumption and production activities. However, understanding the energy consumption patterns of choices of energy sources and their determinants has largely been neglected in the existing literature. As such, this study uses the multivariate probit model to identify the factors influencing household energy choices in Vietnam, using data from 2016 to 2020 from the Vietnamese Households Living Standard Surveys (VHLSS). Our study focuses on how households' multiple occupations, particularly in rural areas, affect energy sources choices. We find that households participate in different agricultural sub-sectors simultaneously, resulting in differential access to multiple energy sources. Households engaging in cultivation, forestry, and animal husbandry activities are more likely to choose coal, fuelwood, and biomass as the primary energy sources for production and daily uses. In contrast, higher household income and household head with higher education level also increases the likelihood of choosing cleaner energy choices for daily uses and production activities. In addition, our empirical findings confirm the validity of the "energy stacking” hypothesis rather than the “energy ladders" hypothesis – two contrasting hypotheses concerning household energy transition in the literature. Policy implications have emerged based on the findings of this paper to enhance the clean energy transition in Vietnam in achieving sustainable economic development and social transformation and her commitment to combating global climate change issues.

Assessing Eco-Friendly Alternatives: Composite Fibers and Recycled Plastics for Sustainable Impact and Efficiency

The chase for sustainability has driven awesome strides in composite fibers and recycled plastics, which have made viable options available in numerous areas. Composite fibers are known for their recordbreaking strength-to-weight proportions and capacity to serve numerous functions, that’s why they’re used all over from the automotive industry to aviation. But natural fibers are hydrophilic, so they do not mix well with hydrophobic matrices they need surface adjustments and fire retardant treatments to be utilized for composites to perform at their best. On the other hand, one of plastics’ most significant benefits is their recyclability, recycling programs can do a lot to tackle widespread plastic contamination. Recycling has positive environmental effects, but still there are major challenges when it comes to plastic recycling including contamination and all the different types of plastics that require sorting out. Promising answers can be offered to these issues through better approaches to sorting and recycling plastic waste. For instance, life cycle assessments and carbon footprint research are vital for deciding how much composite fibers influence the environment in comparison with conventional materials made from recycled plastics. In this study, we can see that all through their lifecycle composite fibers have been found to discharge minimal amounts of GHGs subsequently reducing energy use to reduce pollution. Similarly, the work on recycled plastics when compared with virgin ones lowers their impacts on the environment by saving landfills from plastic waste, reducing the demand for raw materials, and high in energy production techniques. In general terms, sustainable indicators are exceptionally imperative in ensuring that we make choices based on reliable information regarding environmentally sustainable practices and industrial applications that require solid and sustainable future transformation.

Exploring the engineered hierarchical MgO microspheres as a selective catalyst for the Claisen–Schmidt condensation reaction

Exploring the utilization of earth-abundant metal oxide for sustainable essential organic transformation for industrial applications.