The Sustainability of Universities: What Matters Most According to Key Stakeholders

Sara Giovanna Mauro (), Maddalena Cavicchioli (), Ulpiana Kocollari () and Costanza Torricelli ()
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Sara Giovanna Mauro: University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Department of Economics Marco Biagi
Maddalena Cavicchioli: University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Department of Economics Marco Biagi
Ulpiana Kocollari: University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Department of Economics Marco Biagi
Costanza Torricelli: University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Department of Economics Marco Biagi

A chapter in Sustainability in Education, 2026, pp 535-553 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract Higher Education Institutions are expected to play a key role in educating future generations of leaders and supporting the society’s sustainable development. However, to this purpose, it is pivotal to focus more on the different actors who can contribute to university sustainability, as the governance structure is particularly complex. In this research, students and other key categories of stakeholders have been surveyed in a large-size, publicly funded university in the North of Italy. The points of view of these groups of stakeholders have been compared to shed light on what is considered relevant for the sustainability of the university, considering its different dimensions—environmental, social, and governance (ESG)—being thus relevant for its sustainability performance. Based on the perceptions of different stakeholders, it is possible to construct composite indices for ESG performances. The findings show that stakeholders have different perceptions on university sustainability: students perceive as more relevant the environmental and social dimensions, while the other key stakeholders, e.g., professors, companies, institutions and governance bodies, consider the governance aspect more relevant. These findings contribute to the development of indicators for assessing university’s sustainability commitments and impacts, analyzing what is relevant from the viewpoint of different stakeholders, including students.

Date: 2026
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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-16077-5_23

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