Green campus initiatives and strategies for sustainability in higher education

Abstract

The study on Green Campus Initiatives (GCIs) at Durban University of Technology (DUT) investigates the mechanisms for stakeholder engagement, plant protection and resource conservation, offering recommendations to enhance sustainability. The growing global emphasis on sustainability and environmental preservation motivates this research, aiming to elucidate GCI’s role in reducing environmental impacts, raising awareness and embedding ecological consciousness in higher education. Employing a qualitative approach and evidence-based research, we explore and analyse the strategies employed by DUT to promote sustainability, focussing on stakeholder engagement, education and resource conservation. We reveal the successes and challenges faced in implementing GCIs, emphasising the importance of formalised environmental policies and sustainability education. The findings highlight DUT’s effective GCIs implementation, particularly in stakeholder engagement and educational initiatives. We suggest that higher education institutions (HEIs) should engage in sustainability evaluation programmes, formalise environmental policies and enhance sustainability education to strengthen GCIs implementations, align with global standards and cultivate environmentally conscious graduates.

Contribution: This article contributes to the body of research on sustainability in higher education by providing a comprehensive analysis of GCIs at DUT. It offers insights for policymakers, academic practitioners and stakeholders, emphasising the need for formalised environmental policies and enhanced sustainability education. In addition, it proposes practical recommendations for HEIs to improve GCIs implementation and environmental stewardship.