Abstract
Universities, especially the public ones, play an important role in the formulation and implementation of public policies of Sustainability, and in teaching people who can act in the construction of sustainable societies. The purpose of this study was to establish relationships between the realities of two public universities in different contexts, the University of Copenhagen (UCPH) and the University of São Paulo (USP). Then, internships were taken at both universities, UCPH and USP, from 2015 to 2016. We made observations and dialogues, and analyzed reports, books, as well university environmental policies, strategies and practices on sustainability. Based on these two experiences, it was possible to identify convergences and divergences between policies, strategies, and practices related to sustainability. Here, some categories were discussed: the context of each University influencing its actions, sustainability offices, as well their goals, plans, and strategies for biodiversity protection, environmental education, waste management and cooperation related to sustainability. It has been noticed challenges for universities to integrate sustainability into education, research, outreach activities, direct campus operations, and community involvement. However, UCPH and USP are trying to overcome and improve them.
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Acknowledgements
This article resulted from SSM’s report for USP Innovation Agency. It was supported by three fellowships: USP Innovation Agency, from 2015 to 2016, with the project “Sustainability: Strategies and Action plans aiming sustainable practices in urban areas, having the University of São Paulo as a model”; the Superintendence of Environment Management, during 2016, with the internship “Apoio à formação socioambiental de servidores da USP e às Políticas Ambientais da USP”; and Pró-Reitoria de Cultura e Extensão Universitária of USP, in 2015, with the project “Sustentabilidade, educação ambiental e gestão de resíduos nas moradias de estudantes do Campus da USP de Ribeirão Preto”. We would like to thank professor Carsten Nico Hjortsø from UCPH - Unit for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Management - for his efforts to consolidate the internship. Finally, we thank the editor and anonymous reviewers for their large efforts.
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Mandai, S.S., da Rocha Brando, F. (2018). Experiences in Sustainability of Two Public Universities in Different Contexts: The University of Copenhagen and the University of São Paulo. In: Leal Filho, W., Frankenberger, F., Iglecias, P., Mülfarth, R. (eds) Towards Green Campus Operations. World Sustainability Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76885-4_44
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