TY - JOUR
T1 - Values as a bridge between sustainability and institutional assessment
T2 - A case study from BOKU University
AU - Ribeiro, Maria Miguel
AU - Hoover, Elona
AU - Burford, Gemma
AU - Buchebner, Julia
AU - Lindenthal, Thomas
N1 - © The Authors. This is a pre-print (original submitted article prior to peer review). Peer review publication published in the International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, January 2016. Available at: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/full/10.1108/IJSHE-12-2014-0170
PY - 2016/1/4
Y1 - 2016/1/4
N2 - Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to illustrate that values-focused assessment can provide auseful lens for integrating sustainability and institutional performance assessment in universities.Design/methodology/approach - This study applies a values elicitation methodology for indicatordevelopment, through thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews and a stakeholder workshop, ina pilot project at BOKU University, Vienna.Findings - This case highlights that many of the values held by university staff and students arepro-sustainability values. Starting from these values may be a useful way of engaging universitystakeholders in sustainability dialogues. The paper illustrates how values-based indicators can beintegrated into university performance assessments, providing a novel way of thinking aboutsustainability assessment in universities.Research limitations/implications - The exploratory pilot was carried out in a university with afocus on natural sciences. Further research could replicate and compare the results of this paper in otherinstitutions.Originality/value - Creating a shared understanding of pro-sustainability values can helpindividuals to reconceptualise sustainability in relation to their own work and motivations. In doing so,it can highlight the inherent synergies between sustainability assessment and institutionalperformance assessment in the higher education sector, which are usually seen as separate domains.Keywords Engagement, Assessment, University, Sustainability, Performance, ValuesPaper type Research paper
AB - Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to illustrate that values-focused assessment can provide auseful lens for integrating sustainability and institutional performance assessment in universities.Design/methodology/approach - This study applies a values elicitation methodology for indicatordevelopment, through thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews and a stakeholder workshop, ina pilot project at BOKU University, Vienna.Findings - This case highlights that many of the values held by university staff and students arepro-sustainability values. Starting from these values may be a useful way of engaging universitystakeholders in sustainability dialogues. The paper illustrates how values-based indicators can beintegrated into university performance assessments, providing a novel way of thinking aboutsustainability assessment in universities.Research limitations/implications - The exploratory pilot was carried out in a university with afocus on natural sciences. Further research could replicate and compare the results of this paper in otherinstitutions.Originality/value - Creating a shared understanding of pro-sustainability values can helpindividuals to reconceptualise sustainability in relation to their own work and motivations. In doing so,it can highlight the inherent synergies between sustainability assessment and institutionalperformance assessment in the higher education sector, which are usually seen as separate domains.Keywords Engagement, Assessment, University, Sustainability, Performance, ValuesPaper type Research paper
U2 - 10.1108/IJSHE-12-2014-0170
DO - 10.1108/IJSHE-12-2014-0170
M3 - Article
SN - 1467-6370
VL - 17
SP - 40
EP - 53
JO - International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education
JF - International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education
IS - 1
ER -