Making an urban university 'green': Uniting administration and students towards synergy. Uniting

Abstract

The authors study a case of increasing the environmental sustainability of Minin University. Specific obstacles found on the path of the 'green' development of urban universities is analyzed. Objective reasons for difficulties include the geographical position of the university, absence of traditional campus system, buildings' age and condition, limited availability of financial resources and legal grounds for restructuring of buildings; centralized sewerage, heating and water supply as well as waste disposal; plus, the relatively low level of environmental culture of the population. Even when an urban university 'inherits' these issues from the city itself, the authors see a real opportunity to improve the environmental sustainability of the university by implementing a system that includes environmental projects by the university administration blended with student initiatives. The university administration prepares the application for the 'green' rating, administers a contest of student projects and the allocation of resources for those, as well as the renovation and restructuring of university premises. Students are responsible for planning relevant student associations' agenda, generating ideas, participating in project workgroups, planning and driving environmental events. The authors conclude that it is possible to obtain a synergetic effect of the upstream development of the environmental sustainability of the university.