Between real change and institutional facade: unpacking operational sustainability in English universities

What is it about?

This article investigates why English universities are involved in sustainability practices on their campuses and what challenges they face in doing so. It looks at the views and experiences of university staff directly involved in these sustainability efforts. The research uses theories related to institutions and organisational credibility to understand why universities take part in sustainability activities. It finds that external pressures, accepted norms, and the tendency to imitate others play a role in motivating universities to adopt sustainability practices. However, there's a tension between making meaningful changes for sustainability and the universities' own interests. The article identifies two main types of challenges to advancing sustainability: those related to how universities are organised and those related to broader societal and institutional factors. It emphasises the role of various stakeholders in supporting university sustainability efforts and suggests ways to overcome these challenges to achieve more significant sustainability outcomes.

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