Assessment of Stakeholders’ Perception of Campus Sustainability at Higher Education Institutions of the South West Region of Cameroon: Implications for a Sustainable Future

Abstract

This study sought to examine campus sustainability at universities with a focus on how universities are integrating sustainability concerns into their core functions of teaching, research, community engagement and university management operations. While Higher Education Institutions have been identified as key agents for improving sustainable development, there are few studies available to demonstrate what roles they play and what practices prevail in these institutions to achieve sustainability. In this vein, the main objective of this research work was to obtain an overview of higher education stakeholders’ perception about campus sustainability principles and practices at some selected Higher Education Institutions of the South West Region that will promote the attainment of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The study aimed to assist Higher Education Institutions to develop comprehensive institutional strategies that would enhance their overall institutional mission and action plans towards achieving sustainable development. Practically the study examined campus sustainability under two constructs; Institutional Governance and  Campus Operations. Two research questions were therefore answered. Literature was reviewed, giving adequate attention from different conceptual, theoretical and empirical perspectives. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study, using a mixed method through which data was drawn from a sample of 456 respondents. The stratified and purposive samplings were adopted to select the respondents. A higher education sustainability assessment questionnaire (HESAQ) and interview were instruments used for data collection. The findings established that: a significant proportion of respondents indicated that institutional governance is limited in the incorporation of sustainability principles. Also more than half of respondents indicated campus operations do not foster sustainability. The fundamental recommendation was the need for Higher Education Institutions to create awareness not only through the universities’ curriculum and research, but also via its operational practices and facilitate environments for all stakeholders as well as the local community to develop their understanding and competencies towards sustainable living. It is hoped that the findings of this study will serve as a guide for higher education institutions in their on-going sustainability efforts in providing a basis for informing better policy and planning towards creating sustainable campus culture for higher education institutions to serve as precursors for the attainment of the global sustainable development agenda.