Governance implications of the UN Higher Education Sustainability Initiative

Article


Moon, C., Walmsley, A. and Apostolopoulos, N. 2018. Governance implications of the UN Higher Education Sustainability Initiative. Corporate Governance: The International Journal of Business in Society. 18 (4), pp. 624-634. https://doi.org/10.1108/CG-01-2018-0020
TypeArticle
TitleGovernance implications of the UN Higher Education Sustainability Initiative
AuthorsMoon, C., Walmsley, A. and Apostolopoulos, N.
Abstract

The Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI, 2017a) states that higher education institutions (HEIs) are integrating the SDGs into sustainability strategies in the form of research, teaching, pedagogy, and campus practices, and to position HEIs as key drivers for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Concern has been raised (HESI, 2017b) as to the potential impact of HEIs in helping to achieve the SDGs; the challenges faced by HEIs with integrating the SDGs into curriculum and institutional strategies; the role of partnerships for HEIs among students, faculty, government, and various stakeholders; and how the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the SDGs, will transform the work of HEIs. Prior research has highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary research and studies (e.g. Mader & Rammel, 2015); and more recently Rasche et al (2017) conceive that governance systems in general can serve to make, take, or break support for the SDGs. In fact, Velazquez et al., (2005) found many obstacles preventing the success of sustainability initiatives on campuses around the world. This paper reviews progress of a sample of 300+ HEIs that are signatories to the HESI. Findings reveal a difference between HEI governance that is ‘instrumental’ and governance that is ‘holistic’ in relation to sustainability with implications for achieving the SDGs in general and for academic-business partnerships in particular. The research is supported by a grant from Enterprise Educators UK (EEUK, 2017) a network of 1,600 enterprise and entrepreneurship educators and practitioners from over 100 UK Higher and Further Education Institutions and related organisations.

Research GroupCorporate Social Responsibility and Business Ethics group
PublisherEmerald
JournalCorporate Governance: The International Journal of Business in Society
ISSN1472-0701
Publication dates
Online18 Apr 2018
Print27 Jul 2018
Publication process dates
Deposited03 Apr 2018
Accepted22 Mar 2018
Output statusPublished
Accepted author manuscript
File Access Level
Open
Copyright Statement

This is the accepted version of the manuscript "Governance implications of the UN Higher Education Sustainability Initiative", published in the journal Corporate Governance: The International Journal of Business in Society available via the journal site at: https://doi.org/10.1108/CG-01-2018-0020
This article is © Emerald Group Publishing and permission has been granted for this version to appear in the Middlesex University Research Repository. Emerald does not grant permission for this article to be further copied/distributed or hosted elsewhere without the express permission from Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1108/CG-01-2018-0020
LanguageEnglish
First submitted version
File Access Level
Restricted
Permalink -

https://repository.mdx.ac.uk/item/87977

Download files


Accepted author manuscript
  • 59
    total views
  • 11
    total downloads
  • 3
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Green finance for entrepreneurs: current perspectives and conceptual model
Moon, C. and Bace, E. 2020. Green finance for entrepreneurs: current perspectives and conceptual model. ECIE 2020. A Virtual Conference Supported By Università degli Studi Internazionali di Roma (UNINT) 17 - 18 Sep 2020 Reading, UK Academic Conferences and Publishing International (ACPI). pp. 412-418 https://doi.org/10.34190/EIE.20.090
'Rio+25', the global compact in Brazil and opportunities presented by the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Moon, C. 2019. 'Rio+25', the global compact in Brazil and opportunities presented by the UN Sustainable Development Goals. in: Stehr, C., Dziatzko, N. and Struve, F. (ed.) Corporate Social Responsibility in Brazil: the future is now Cham, Switzerland Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature. pp. 3-27
The entrepreneurial university as an engine for sustainable development
Apostolopoulos, N., Moon, C. and Walmsley, A. 2018. The entrepreneurial university as an engine for sustainable development. International Journal of Innovation and Regional Development. 8 (4), pp. 358-372. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJIRD.2018.097455
Contributions to the SDGs through Social and Eco entrepreneurship: new mindsets for sustainable solutions
Moon, C. 2018. Contributions to the SDGs through Social and Eco entrepreneurship: new mindsets for sustainable solutions. in: Apostolopoulos, N., Al-Dajani, H., Holt, D., Jones, P. and Newbery, R. (ed.) Entrepreneurship and the Sustainable Development Goals Emerald.
Environmental management best practices: towards social innovation
Batle, J., Orfila-Sintes, F. and Moon, C. 2018. Environmental management best practices: towards social innovation. International Journal of Hospitality Management. 69, pp. 14-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2017.10.013
Business Ethics: Facing Up To The Issues
Moon, C. and Bonny, C. 2001. Business Ethics: Facing Up To The Issues. UK The Economist Books.
The role of universities in the provision of corporate social responsibility and ethics teaching in the agricultural sector
Moon, C. and Gebbels, J. 2016. The role of universities in the provision of corporate social responsibility and ethics teaching in the agricultural sector. Athens Journal of Business & Economics. 2 (4), pp. 343-355.
100 Global innovative sustainability projects: evaluation and implications for entrepreneurship education
Moon, C. 2017. 100 Global innovative sustainability projects: evaluation and implications for entrepreneurship education. 12th European Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ECIE 2017). Novancia Business School Paris, France 21 - 22 Sep 2017 Academic Conferences and Publishing International (ACPI). pp. 805-816
Life and loves of a landscape artist: biography of Gordon Crossley
Moon, C. 2016. Life and loves of a landscape artist: biography of Gordon Crossley. United Kingdom Dr Christopher J Moon.
Social enterprise and disruption innovation: evaluating the role of Rumie's free educational software in seven developing economies
Moon, C., Kavanagh, A., Jeffrey, J., Gebbels, J. and Korsgaard, K. 2016. Social enterprise and disruption innovation: evaluating the role of Rumie's free educational software in seven developing economies. Eskelinen, M. and Aaltio, I. (ed.) 11th European Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ECIE 2016). JAMK University of Applied Science, Jyväskylä, Finland Academic Conferences and Publishing International (ACPI). pp. 485-495
Green Universities and eco-friendly learning: from league tables to eco-entrepreneurship education
Moon, C. 2015. Green Universities and eco-friendly learning: from league tables to eco-entrepreneurship education. Dameri, R., Garelli, R. and Resta, M. (ed.) 10th European Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ECIE 2015). Genoa, Italy 17 - 18 Sep 2015 Academic Conferences and Publishing International (ACPI). pp. 468-478
Enterprise Simulation & Experiential Learning (ESEL): case study from Middlesex University
Moon, C. 2015. Enterprise Simulation & Experiential Learning (ESEL): case study from Middlesex University. in: Remenyi, D. (ed.) The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Teaching Excellence Awards 2015. An Anthology of Case Histories Reading, UK Academic Conferences and Publishing International (ACPI). pp. 83-102
Enterprise and entrepreneurship education: implications for innovation in delivery
Moon, C. 2014. Enterprise and entrepreneurship education: implications for innovation in delivery. 9th European Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ECIE 2014). Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK 18 - 19 Sep 2014 Academic Conferences and Publishing International (ACPI). pp. 630-641