Higher education and sustainability: understanding of the managers of a higher education institution

Abstract

This article is part of a research in progress which aims at defining a set of sustainability indicators that meets the specificities of a Higher Education Institution (HEI). The objective was to identify what is the responsibility of the HEIs before sustainability and the sustainable development from the managers' insights. This is a qualitative research with case study design. The collection techniques used were bibliographical and documentary research and semi-structured interviews with ten managers of the institution. It was determined that managers understand sustainability broadly. The managers mention the importance of applying the concepts to management practices in order to be an example to other institutions and to contribute to the sustainable development of the region where it operates. The respondents cited several actions developed in the HEIs. These results provide subsidies for the construction of a sustainability indicator system for monitoring and assessing the effectiveness of the actions developed.