A Sustainability Maturity Model for Higher Education: A process management tool to support embedding sustainability in higher education

Glover, Alison (2012). A Sustainability Maturity Model for Higher Education: A process management tool to support embedding sustainability in higher education. ResearchGate.

Abstract

The Welsh Government aims to ensure sustainable development is a central organising principle for organisations. Strategies from the Welsh Government provide Welsh higher education institutions with support and structure to embed education for sustainable development and global citizenship (ESDGC) across all activities. A sector wide review of environmental management systems and energy efficiency improvements at Welsh higher education institutions took place in 2008. This was followed in 2009 by an audit of all higher education curricula for education for sustainable development and global citizenship content. Following this a baselining tool, the ESDGC Development Framework, was developed and piloted in 2011. A Sustainability Maturity Model has since been created based on a capability maturity model project management tool.
The Sustainability Maturity Model illustrates the processes which are vital in the maturing of sustainability at an institutional level. The model uses commitment and leadership, teaching and learning, institutional management, partnerships, and research and monitoring to structure the elements that need to be considered and addressed within an institution to initiate and mobilise change in ESDGC.
This resource contains an overview of the structure for the Sustainability Maturity Model, descriptors of the processes required to progress through Levels 2 and 3 and recording templates to support the process. Although this has been created within the Welsh higher education context, it has potential to offer strategic overview for all higher education institutions. It is anticipated that institutions may not address the whole model at once but may find the focus provided within individual key process areas useful in driving the sustainability agenda at their institution.