An assessment of sustainalibility
practices in universties: a casestudy
of selected universities in Kenya
By
Phaustine W. Khaoya
Reg. No: A82/93621/2013
Introduction
• The idea of sustainability in higher education was
first introduced at an international level by the
United Nations UNESCO-UNEP International
Environmental Education Programme in 1978.
Sustainability is based on the simple principle
that everything we need for our survival and wellbeing, either directly or indirectly depends on the
natural environment. Sustainability creates and
maintains the conditions under which humans
and nature can co-exist in harmony allowing
fulfillment of social, economic and other
requirements of present and future generations.
• Sustainability is the ultimate goal or destination.
It is a state of being of what is sustainable. For
this to happen and achieve a state of
environmental sustainability a framework or
process is needed. Certain conditions have to be
met and steps in the process towards
sustainability have to be made. The framework of
sustainable development is the means for
achieving sustainability. Sustainability therefore
refers to the goal and sustainable development is
the path or framework to achieve it.
Literature review
• The Talloires Declaration
• France in which 22 University Presidents, Vice-Chancellors and
Rectors met to discuss how Higher Education (HE) could contribute
to an environmentally sustainable future. The conference asked
participants to contemplate the role universities could play in
working towards an environmentally sustainable future and what
their individual This declaration came as a result of a conference
held at the Tufts University European Centre in universities could
accomplish in working towards this goal. Participants agreed that
by practicing what it preaches, the university can both engage
students in understanding the institutional metabolism of materials
and activities and have them actively participate to minimize
pollution and waste (ULSF, 1990).
• The Halifax Declaration
• In December 1991, The Conference on University Action for SD was
held in Halifax, Canada. Participants included university presidents,
administrators, faculty, students and representatives from all levels
of government in Canada, non-governmental organizations and the
business community.
•
• The principal goal of the conference was to consider the role
universities could play in improving the capacity of countries to
address environment and development issues, and to discuss the
implication that the Talloires Declaration had for the Canadian
Universities. This resulted in the Halifax Declaration. This
declaration echoed the Talloires Declaration sentiments
emphasizing the moral obligation of University in environmental
sustainability.
• A university that promotes sustainability on its
campus should have a clear vision and the
commitment of management to sustainability.
It should also have in place structures its
framework for example a department or
committee that provides the necessary
resources required to achieve the
sustainability vision (Alshuwaikhat et al.
2008).
Statement of the problem
• Although universities in Africa are signatories to a number of
declarations and have put in place policy statements that
emphasize sustainable development as a way of contributing to
conservation and management of the environment in these
institutions, it is regrettable to note that the majority have no
concrete prescriptions at operational level of what they have in
order to contribute to maximally to sustainable development.
Universities’ core business include training through the academic
programmes, research and consultancy. To achieve the core
business of the university a lot of effort has been dedicated through
planning, performance targets, schedules and financial budgets. It
would be interesting to find out to what extent has the university
directed its efforts towards addressing issues that contribute to
sustainability.
Methodology
• 3.2 Research Design
• This is the overall plan or strategy for conducting the research. The two
main strategies: qualitative and quantitative will be employed in this
research. The survey research design will be used with the help of a
questionnaire. Focus groups, discussions, key informants, interviews and
observations will also be used to collect data. A content analysis will also
be carried out to collect data from documents, reports. This will provide
qualitative and quantitative data that will be analyzed.
• 3.3 Target population
• This study will be conducted in three public universities. It will consist of
students, faculty members and staff in the universities. The government
agencies that are responsible for environmental governance and
management will be included in the research. This target population has
been chosen because it gives a representation of what is found in most
universities in Kenya.
• 3.4 Sample size
• The sample will consist of 374 respondents selected from three public
universities out of the twenty-two public universities in Kenya. This will be
distributed as follows: 120 students (40 from each university), 120 faculty
members (40 out of each university) and 120 members of staff, nonteaching staff (40 from each university).
• At least 10 university managers will be interviewed, three from each
university.
• Two environmental institutional managers from NEMA will be interviewed
and two seniors officers from the concerned Ministry in the government.
•
• 3.5 Sampling Techniques
• The stratified sampling techniques will be employed in this study to
identify the universities to be included in the research.
• Purposive sampling will be used to pick the students, faculty members and
the staff members to be involved in the research in the university.
• 3.6 Data Collection Instruments
• The primary data will be collected from student, faculty members
and members using open and close ended questionnaires. The
questionnaires will address specific objectives and the research
questions. According to Mugenda and Mugenda(1999),
questionnaires is the most common method of obtaining important
information about a population. In this study the research will use
questionnaire to collect date from universities for the research.
• Interviews will be carried out with universities’ management to
obtain relevant information on the research topic. Other important
groups are the environmental agency and the concerned Ministry.
• Focus group discussions will be done to obtain data from groups
like the environmental committee and departments responsible for
environmental management in various institutions
Activity plan
Activity
Time(Months)
Dates(2014-2016)
Development of proposal
3
June-August
Development of research
instruments and piloting
3
September-October
Data collection
6
November-April
Data organization, analysis
and interpretation
4
May- August
Report writing and
submission
3
September- November
Defence and revision of
thesis
3
December-February
Graduation
-
August 2016
Budget plan
No.
Item
Description
Estimated amount
(Kshs.)
1
Stationary
20 photocopy
papers@4oo sh. Per
ream
5 flash disks @800
shs
10 writing pads
@100
Printing services
@10 per page for
600 pages
8000
4000
1000
6000
2
Personnel
10 field assistants@ 300000
100 per day for 30
days
3
Training
Training of 1o field
assistants @ 1000
per day for 2 days
20000