The Roles of Academia in Regional Sustainability Initiatives
Gyula Zilahy (Corvinus University of Budapest), Donald Huisingh (University of Tennessee, Knoxville)
Abstract
Apart from global initiatives, local and regional programmes are playing an increasingly important role in the implementation of the principles of Sustainable Development in many parts of the world. Regional Sustainability Initiatives (RSIs) aim at a balanced development path taking the economic, social and environmental considerations of development into account. These activities successfully combine a wider ‘systems’ perspective with the benefits of the more ‘humane approach of the sub-national scale.’ But regional initiatives can only become successful if all stakeholders take their share from the planning and implementation efforts. Among these stakeholders, the potential for academic institutions to play an important role in the success of these initiatives is significant.
However, according to practical experience, this potential is hardly utilized and thus institutions of higher education need encouragement. This article outlines the most important factors determining the roles of academic institutions in RSIs, the benefits from such activities for both universities and regions and the barriers to more intense participation on behalf of HEIs. Based on the literature and upon research findings from two questionnaire surveys among people active in RSIs and Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) we try to provide an overview of what is happening in this emerging field. Our results confirm the existence of widespread faculty interest to engage in work within RSIs, but also highlight the most important barriers for them to become more fully engaged in RSIs.
