Sustainability certificates in higher education
Hokkanen, Paula (2022)
2022
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2022060716442
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2022060716442
Tiivistelmä
The thesis researched the usage of sustainability certificates in higher education, in Finland and in Europe. The objective was to suggest which certificates were suitable for Jamk University of Applied Sciences’ Sustainable Development working group, who was the commissioner. The literature review consisted of definitions, different certifications and environmental management systems and their use in higher education.
The research method was a qualitative multiple case study with semi-structured interviews. The data collection consisted of primary and secondary data. The questions were framed using a qualitative cost-benefit analysis perspective. The case example universities were the University of Jyväskylä, LUT Universities and TUNI Universities from Finland, and Glasgow Caledonian University. Fairtrade, EcoCompass and OKKA foundation were also interviewed. The main certificates researched were Fairtrade University, EcoCompass, Green Office, Global Compact, as well as ISO 14001 and internal EMS as supports. Sustainability networks, rankings and commitments were also reviewed. The results were analysed using NVivo 11/12 Pro.
The results showed that the Fairtrade University and EcoCompass certifications are the best options cost-benefit wise for higher education institutes. Green Office is well-known globally, but it, and the others, were unsuitable for various reasons. The interviewee consensus was that being certified is a major requirement if a university wishes to be as sustainable as possible. However, there was a definite lack of overall options for higher education regarding sustainability certificates. As of now, there is no option to certify the sustainability of the education itself.
Other limitations of the research included time constraints, the difficulty of the terms and the field of certifications, the emergence of new information and acquiring the interviewees or their suitability.
Further research is needed on multiple additional certifications, their changes and the possibilities of expanding some certificates to higher education in the future.
The research method was a qualitative multiple case study with semi-structured interviews. The data collection consisted of primary and secondary data. The questions were framed using a qualitative cost-benefit analysis perspective. The case example universities were the University of Jyväskylä, LUT Universities and TUNI Universities from Finland, and Glasgow Caledonian University. Fairtrade, EcoCompass and OKKA foundation were also interviewed. The main certificates researched were Fairtrade University, EcoCompass, Green Office, Global Compact, as well as ISO 14001 and internal EMS as supports. Sustainability networks, rankings and commitments were also reviewed. The results were analysed using NVivo 11/12 Pro.
The results showed that the Fairtrade University and EcoCompass certifications are the best options cost-benefit wise for higher education institutes. Green Office is well-known globally, but it, and the others, were unsuitable for various reasons. The interviewee consensus was that being certified is a major requirement if a university wishes to be as sustainable as possible. However, there was a definite lack of overall options for higher education regarding sustainability certificates. As of now, there is no option to certify the sustainability of the education itself.
Other limitations of the research included time constraints, the difficulty of the terms and the field of certifications, the emergence of new information and acquiring the interviewees or their suitability.
Further research is needed on multiple additional certifications, their changes and the possibilities of expanding some certificates to higher education in the future.