Możliwości wdrożenia koncepcji zrównoważonego rozwoju w instytucjach szkolnictwa wyższego - wyniki badań uczelni ekonomicznych

Dorota Teneta-Skwiercz

Abstract

The research question, which was devoted to this study, was formulated as follows: How are universities responding to the challenges of disseminating the concept of sustainable development? The main objective of this paper is to evaluate the possibilities of implementing the concept of sustainable development in higher education. Indirect aims for achieving the main goal are: highlighting the new challenges/expectations facing higher education institutions, identifying the role of the public administration in stimulating corporate social responsibility, and demonstrating areas and examples of initiatives to achieve the university’s sustainability concept. The research methods used in the article are literature analysis, web page analysis of five leading economic universities in Poland and informal discussions with members of university social responsibility committees. The research conducted by the author shows that the level of implementation of the concept seems unsatisfactory. Research has shown that Polish universities do not fully employ their potential in terms of pro-environmental activities and building relationships with the local community. It is also characterized by a low level of institutionalization and a short planning horizon of activities undertaken in pursuit of the idea of sustainable development.