Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Transformation of Higher Education Institutions Towards Sustainability from a Systemic Perspective

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Universities as Living Labs for Sustainable Development

Part of the book series: World Sustainability Series ((WSUSE))

Abstract

Education for sustainable development has risen in scope and importance during the past decades. Even though the word sustainability has become much of a buzzword, the concept of sustainability itself has not made it to mainstream academia. This chapter presents an analysis of the value systems that shape the course of and the discourse in higher education institutions (HEI). Why are HEIs reluctant to change in general and towards sustainable development in particular? What kind of change would need to occur and which factors drive the evolution of HEIs? These questions are discussed from a systemic point of view against the backdrop of systems theories such as Spiral Dynamics and Integral Theory. Four distinct levels of value systems are described. These value systems represent different evolutions of HEIs that all have their place within the evolution of societies in general. The 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) are framed as an ideal means for bridging the gap between value system 2.0 and 3.0. Implications for transforming HEIs are discussed. This chapter will be useful to anyone interested in the systemic forces that shape the way how higher education institutions deal with the task of education for sustainable development.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Armstrong L, Bailey J, Julier G, Kimbell L (2014) Social design futures: HEI research and the AHRC. University of Brighton

    Google Scholar 

  • Beck DE, Cowan CC (1996) Spiral dynamics: mastering values, leadership and change. Blackwell, Maiden, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • Blanco-Portela N, Benayas J, Pertierra LR, Lozano R (2017) Towards the integration of sustainability in Higher Education Institutions: a review of drivers of and barriers to organisational change and their comparison against those found of companies. J Clean Prod 166:563–578

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown BC (2012) Leading complex change with post-conventional consciousness. J Organ Change Manage 25(4):560–575

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Graves CW (1981) Summary statement: the emergent, cyclical, double-helix model of adult biopsychosocial systems. Boston

    Google Scholar 

  • Hedlund-de Witt A (2014a) Rethinking sustainable development: considering how different worldviews envision “development” and “quality of life”. Sustainability 6(11):8310–8328

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hedlund-de Witt A (2014b) The integrative worldview and its potential for sustainable societies. Worldviews Glob Religions Cult Ecol 18(3):191–229

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laloux F (2014) Reinventing organizations. Nelson Parker, Brussels

    Google Scholar 

  • Leal Filho W (2000) Dealing with misconceptions on the concept of sustainability. Int J Sustain High Educ 1(1):9–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leal Filho W (2010) Teaching sustainable development at university level: current trends and future needs. J Baltic Sci Educ 9(4):273–284

    Google Scholar 

  • Leal Filho W, MacDermott F, Padgham J (1996) Implementing sustainable development at university level: a manual of good practice. Association of European Universities-Copernicus

    Google Scholar 

  • Lozano R (2006) Incorporation and institutionalization of SD into universities: breaking through barriers to change. J Clean Prod 14(9):787–796

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lozano R, Ceulemans K, Alonso-Almeida M, Huisingh D, Lozano FJ, Waas T, Lambrechts W, Lukman R, Hugé J (2015) A review of commitment and implementation of sustainable development in higher education: results from a worldwide survey. J Clean Prod 108:1–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mader C, Rammel C (2015) Brief for GSDR 2015 transforming higher education for sustainable development. UN Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform vol 22, no 01

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller-Christ G (2017) Nachhaltigkeitsforschung in einer transzendenten Entwicklung des Hochschulsystems–ein Ordnungsangebot für Innovativität. In: Leal Filho W (ed) Innovation in der Nachhaltigkeitsforschung. Springer Spektrum, Heidelberg, pp 161–180

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller-Christ G, Giesenbauer B (2019) Konturen eines integralen Nachhaltigkeitsmanagements. In: Englert M, Ternès A (eds) Nachhaltiges Management. Springer Gabler, Heidelberg

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller-Christ G, Giesenbauer B, Tegeler MK (2017) Studie zur Umsetzung der SDG im deutschen Bildungssystem. Rat für Nachhaltige Entwicklung, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller-Christ G, Giesenbauer B, Tegeler MK (2018) Die Umsetzung der SDGs im deutschen Bildungssystem—Studie im Auftrag des Rats für Nachhaltige Entwicklung der Bundesregierung. Z Für Int Bild Und EntwicklSpädagogik 41(2):19–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Rieckmann M (2012) Future-oriented higher education: which key competencies should be fostered through university teaching and learning? Futures 44(2):127–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rio+20 Treaty on Higher Education (2014) Rio+20 Treaty on Higher Education. http://www.eauc.org.uk/higher_education_treaty_for_rio20

  • Scharmer CO, Kaufer K (2013) Leading from the emerging future: from ego-system to eco-system economies. Berrett-Koehler, San Francisco, CA

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneidewind U (2014) Von der nachhaltigen zur transformativen Hochschule. Perspektiven einer “True University Sustainability”. UmweltWirtschaftsForum 22(4):221–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singer-Brodowski M, Mader C (2018) Die Energiewende braucht die Bildungswende: Der Beitrag der Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung zur Energiewende auf individueller, organisationaler und gesamtgesellschaftlicher Ebene. In: Holstenkamp L, Radtke J (eds) Handbuch Energiewende und Partizipation. Springer VS, Wiesbaden, pp 463–473

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas I (2004) Sustainability in tertiary curricula: what is stopping it happening? Int J Sustain High Educ 5(1):33–47

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • United Nations (2015) Transforming our world: the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. A/RES/70/1, 21 Oct. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld

  • Van Opstal M, Hugé J (2013) Knowledge for sustainable development: a worldviews perspective. Environ Dev Sustain 15(3):687–709

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Weenen H (2000) Towards a vision of a sustainable university. Int J Sustain High Educ 1(1):20–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiek A, Withycombe L, Redman C, Mills SB (2011) Moving forward on competence in sustainability research and problem solving. Environment 53(2):3–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilber K (2001) A theory of everything: an integral vision for business, politics, science and spirituality. Shambhala, Boston, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • World Commission on Environment and Development (1987) Our common future. World Commission for Environment and Development

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Bremen, Enrique-Schmidt-Straße 1, 28359, Bremen, Germany

    Bror Giesenbauer & Merle Tegeler

Authors
  1. Bror Giesenbauer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Merle Tegeler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bror Giesenbauer .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. European School of Sustainability Science and Research, HAW Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Walter Leal Filho

  2. European School of Sustainability Science and Research, HAW Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Amanda Lange Salvia

  3. Department of Geography, University of South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Rudi W. Pretorius

  4. University of Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, Brazil

    Luciana Londero Brandli

  5. Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini, Greece

    Evangelos Manolas

  6. Department of Social Sciences and Management, Universidade Aberta, Porto, Portugal

    Fatima Alves

  7. Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal

    Ulisses Azeiteiro

  8. School of Architecture and Design, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Judy Rogers

  9. Department of Life and Environmental Science, Bournemouth University, Poole, UK

    Chris Shiel

  10. Department of Business and Economics, Research Unit NECE, Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilha, Portugal

    Arminda Do Paco

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Giesenbauer, B., Tegeler, M. (2020). The Transformation of Higher Education Institutions Towards Sustainability from a Systemic Perspective. In: Leal Filho, W., et al. Universities as Living Labs for Sustainable Development. World Sustainability Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15604-6_39

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation