Internationalization of Universities: Trends for Adoption of Environmental Management System EMS-ISO 14001:2004 across Higher Education Sector Universities in Pakistan

Abstract

This study emphasized the results carried out on a sample of twenty Higher Education Commission (HEC) accredited universities in Pakistan, the prime purpose of which was to surface major constituents for the need of environmental standards in universities. EMS ISO 14001:2004 processes in overt and covert dynamics for their internationalization and the result being the less awareness level amongst various stakeholders about such processes and their resulting benefits. It aims in general, to decipher the viability and advantages of shifting to an environmental system ,the standards maintained by universities in relation to environment safety, and in particular the case study of a Pakistani , leading degree awarding university ,that showed interest in internalization by adopting EMS System. As a general process these standardizations are still in an early developing stage. The study thus indicates that minimal time duration of 8 to 20 months in order to acquire EMS certifications, and document controls. A case study in this research is of CIIT Pakistan and its struggle for obtaining international standardization including EMS. The methodology implied consisted of visits to relevant websites, questionnaires' and surveys conducted across 60 Pakistani leading universities. The study thus, resonates on two distinct levels of analysis: the benefits of adopting EMS by universities in general and the limitations of adopting EMS by Pakistani universities in particular, leading to performance changes resulting from implementation of such international standards and making their existence in international knowledge economic market of the world.