Integrating sustainability into the university: Past, present, and future

Abstract

The idea of evolution is deeply rooted in Western culture as since the eighteenth century the concept of continual development. Indeed, the latter commenced with the Industrial Revolution with the intent of improving the standard of living and thus quality of life. Higher education is necessarily part of this requirement and has been enacted by Universities that provide graduate whom typically become active and responsible citizens often internationally and usually supported by Government. To an extent, Universities control education, research, and training and thus provide a pivotal role in the dissemination of any concept. In this chapter, we examine the concept of sustainability and, based on an analysis, demonstrate the historical significance of sustainability and outline the significant contribution made by Universities with regard to the elucidation of sustainability. Indeed, it is our perception that Universities should use the concepts of both sustainable development and sustainability to reinforce their mission and improve the quality of the learning process. Although the University is seen as the most traditional of all institutions, it has of late become the major instrument of change in social, economic, and political systems, by adopting a new educational paradigm based on multidisciplinary education concerning environmental issues, stressing the values of equity, justice, cultural, and environmental sustainability, and viewing the learning process itself as lifelong.