A Comparative Analysis of the Use of the Concept of Sustainability in the Romanian Top Universities’ Strategic Plans

Abstract

As the effects of climate change on today’s society make the headlines across the globe, urging all stakeholders to join forces to act and to create a sustainable world, universities have started engaging in the process of building a sustainable future for the generations to come. The sustainable university has thus emerged, a pro-active and collaborative university that performs in several domains. Since the university’s strategic plan is an instance of official and public communication on the future institutional development, its investigation reveals the university’s position towards sustainability. This study highlights the explicit use of the concept of sustainability in the strategic plans for 2020–2024 of the twelve Romanian top universities and points to the sustainable domains associated with it. Moreover, to determine the direction towards which the Romanian top universities are heading, in terms of sustainability, the article draws a comparison with previous research conducted on the strategic plans for 2016–2020. The main conclusion reached is that although there is an increasing tendency to use the concept in the latest strategic plans, building sustainable universities in Romania is still a goal to be achieved in the future.

A study of the Web visibility of the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda on university websites

“…The most prominent topics in this field of study have included the implementation of the SDGs, challenges and benefits associated with their application, trends in sustainable development education and promotion strategies. Some studies have sought to identify the obstacles to the effective establishment of sustainable development at universities, finding that higher education institutions still need to do more to integrate sustainability into their curricula and research groups (Leal Filho et al, 2017;Chaleta et al, 2021) and even into their strategic plans (Bieler and McKenzie, 2017;Stoian et al, 2021).…”

“…Some studies have sought to identify the obstacles to the effective establishment of sustainable development at universities, finding that higher education institutions still need to do more to integrate sustainability into their curricula and research groups (Leal Filho et al , 2017; Chaleta et al , 2021) and even into their strategic plans (Bieler and McKenzie, 2017; Stoian et al , 2021).…”

Developing a method for incorporating sustainability into the strategic planning of higher education institutions

“…From this perspective, the concept of a sustainable university emerges (Stoian et al, 2021). In the proposal by Velazquez et al (2006), a sustainable HEI model involves four phases:…”

“…The mission is a key document of any HEI because it synthesizes its objectives, values and essential activities, constituting a source of inspiration for all of its stakeholders (Fantauzzi et al, 2021). However, several recent studies indicated that, to analyze the real sustainable positioning of an HEI, in addition to verifying the presence of sustainability in mission and policy statements, the content of their respective strategic plans must be evaluated (Di Nauta et al, 2020;S imon et al, 2020;Stoian et al, 2021). Only by reading and analyzing their strategic plans can the intentions declared by the universities be verified as being echoed in practical actions (Stoian et al, 2021).…”

“…However, several recent studies indicated that, to analyze the real sustainable positioning of an HEI, in addition to verifying the presence of sustainability in mission and policy statements, the content of their respective strategic plans must be evaluated (Di Nauta et al, 2020;S imon et al, 2020;Stoian et al, 2021). Only by reading and analyzing their strategic plans can the intentions declared by the universities be verified as being echoed in practical actions (Stoian et al, 2021). Some studies were dedicated to verifying the holistic integration of sustainability in university strategy.…”