Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) worldwide are increasingly committed to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). There is widespread agreement on the importance of establishing a sustainability focus within HEIs. Many have integrated sustainability into the curriculum, hoping future graduates and leaders will develop sustainable solutions to the challenges they face. Some HEIs have gone further by adopting a Green Campus strategy. Although some initiatives have succeeded, approaches to achieving SDGs often lack strong evidence.
Using a case study approach, this paper focuses on the journey of a large HEI campus in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Reporting on an applied sustainability project, the study outlines organizational inputs, artifacts and initiatives that together enabled a cultural shift toward sustainability. These actions laid the groundwork for the HEI to reposition itself and create measurable sustainable impact.
This paper argues that HEIs can become truly sustainable universities only by adopting a comprehensive sustainability strategy, not one limited to isolated efforts in curriculum or procurement. A sustainable university must lead by example, serving as a model of solutions that can transfer to industry and society.
Therefore, this paper proposes merging the strategic constructs of sustainability and entrepreneurship to help HEIs showcase best practices and deliver sustainable solutions to the market.
