SpringerLink
Log in

Environment and Social Sustainability Approaches in Policy and Practice: A Case Study of Symbiosis International University, Pune, India

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Transformative Approaches to Sustainable Development at Universities

Part of the book series: World Sustainability Series ((WSUSE))

  • 1219 Accesses

Abstract

Environmental issues, development concerns and sustainability have become a major interest area for society as critical issues for economic growth and societal development. The recent Rio+20 summit in 2012 has strengthened the need for building sustainable development as an integral part of educational institutions through integrated learning and use of innovative pedagogical methods including the internationalization of educational systems. The present chapter seeks to focus on sustainability as a core vision and its concepts in policy and practices by implementing a unique standardized curriculum integrating various levels of sustainable development by building curriculum in key disciplines like energy, environment, infrastructure, climate change, global governance and corporate sustainability at the Symbiosis International University. The case study also discusses a preliminary assessment of the sustainability operations of the University through quantification of its energy, water consumption patterns and other initiatives. The study uses pilot student driven projects to describe sustainable development in practice. The study addresses some of the key issues and challenges in building environmental aspects as a part higher education policy and as a sustainable practice across constituent institutions of the University.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free ship** worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • AASHE (2012) Sustainability tracking, assessment and rating system (STARS) version 1.2 technical manual. Association for the advancement of sustainability in higher education, p 300, http://www.stars.aashe.org. Accessed 24 Mar 2014

  • Adams C, Heijltjes MG, Jack G, Marjoribanks T, Powell M (2011) The development of leaders able to respond to climate change and sustainability challenges: the role of business schools. Sustain Acc, Manag Policy J 2(1):165–171

    Google Scholar 

  • Areendran G, Rao P, Raj K, Mazumdar S, Puri K (2013) Land-use/Land-cover change dynamic analysis in mining areas of Singrauli district in Madhya Pradesh, India. Trop Ecol 54(2):239–250

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhat V, Rao P, Patil Y (2012) Development of an integrated model to recover precious metals from electronic scrap: a novel strategy for e-waste management. Procedia: Soc Behav Sci 37:397–406

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonnett M (2002) Education for sustainability as a frame of mind. Environ Educ Res 8:9–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cayuela A, Robinson JB, Campbell A, Coops N, Munro A (2013) Integration of operational and academic efforts in sustainability at the University of British Columbia. In: Caeiro S, Leal Filho W, Jabbour C, Azeiteiro UM (eds) Sustainability assessment tools in higher education institutions—map** trends and good practices around the world. Springer International Publishing, Switzerland, Part IV, Switzerland pp 223–236

    Google Scholar 

  • Dempsey N, Bramley G, Power S, Brown C (2009) The social dimension of sustainable development: defining urban social sustainability. Sustainable development. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122406493/abstract. Accessed 24 March 2014

  • Ehrenfeld J, Gertler N (1997) Industrial ecology in practice—the evolution of interdependence at Kalundborg. J Ind Ecol 1(1):67–79

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Enderle G (1997) A worldwide survey of business ethics in the 1990s. J Bus Ethics 16:1475–1483

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Finnveden G, Hauschild M, Ekvall T, Guinee J, Heijungs R, Hellweg S, Koehler A, Pennington D, Suh S (2009) Recent developments in life cycle assessments. J Environ Manag 91(1):1–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haigh M (2010) Greening the university curriculum: appraising an international movement. In: Chalkley B, Haigh M, Higgitt D (eds) Education for sustainable development. Routledge, London, p 320

    Google Scholar 

  • Hegarty K, Thomas I, Kriewaldt C, Holdsworth S, Bekessy S (2011) Insights into the value of a ‘stand-alone’ course for sustainability education. Environ Educ Res 17(4):451–469

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ICLEI, South Asia (2009) Energy and carbon emissions profiles of 54 South Asian cities. Report for the British High Commission, p 82

    Google Scholar 

  • Itankar N, Bhat V, Chourey J, Barve K, Kulkarni S, Rao P, Patil Y (2013) Resource recovery from wastes containing valuable metal species using low-cost biomaterials—an approach of passive bioremediation and its newer applications. In: Patil YB, Rao P (eds) Applied Bioremediation—active and passive approaches. Intech Open Science Publishers, Croatia, pp 255–283

    Google Scholar 

  • Leal Filho W (2000) Dealing with misconceptions on the concept of sustainability. Int J Sustain High Educ 191:9–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leal Filho W (2011) About the role of universities and their contribution to sustainable development. High Educ Policy 24:427–438

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leal Filho W (2012) (ed) Sustainable development at universities: new horizons series: Umweltbildung, Umweltkommunikation und Nachhaltigkeit/Environmental Education, Communication and Sustainability, vol 34. Peter Lang Scientific Publishers, Frankfurt, pp 994

    Google Scholar 

  • Living Planet Report (2012) WWF International Publication

    Google Scholar 

  • Lozano R (2010) Diffusion of sustainable development in universities curricula: an empirical example from Cardiff University. J Clean Prod 14(9–11):963–972

    Google Scholar 

  • Lozano R (2006) A tool for graphical assessment of sustainability in universities (GASU). J Clean Prod 14(9–11):963–972

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Madeira AC, Carravilla MA, Oliveira JF, Costa CAV (2011) A methodology for sustainability evaluation and reporting in higher education institutions. High Educ Policy 24:459–479

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malovics G, Csignene NN, Kraus S (2008) The role of corporate social responsibility in strong sustainability. J Socio-Econ 37:907–918

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matten D, Moon J (2004) Corporate social responsibility education in Europe. J Bus Ethics 54:323–337

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meinhausen M, Meinhausen N, Hare W, Raper SCB, Frieler K, Knutti R, Frame DJ, Allen MR (2009) Green house gas emission targets for limiting global warming to 2 °C. Nature 458:1158–1163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell R (2011) Sustaining change on a Canadian campus: preparing Brock University for a sustainability audit. Int J Sustain High Educ 12(1):7–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mukhopadhyay P, Revi A (2009) Kee** India’s economic engine going: climate change and the urbanisation question. Econ Polit Wkly 44(31):59–70

    Google Scholar 

  • NCSE (2003) Recommendations for education for a sustainable and secure future. In: Blockstein DE, Greene J (eds) National council for science and the environment. Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Pachauri RK, Reisinger A (2007) Contribution of working groups I, II and III to the fourth assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change. Core Writing Team. IPCC, Geneva, pp 104

    Google Scholar 

  • Patil Yogesh B (2012) Development of an innovative low-cost industrial waste treatment technology for resource conservation—a case study with gold-cyanide emanated from SMEs. Procedia: Soc Behav Sci 37:379–388

    Google Scholar 

  • Rao P, Patil Y, Gupte R (2013) Education for sustainable development: trends in Indian business schools and universities in a post liberalization era. In: Caeiro S, Leal Filho W, Jabbour C, Azeiteiro UM (eds) Sustainability assessment tools in higher education institutions—map** trends and good practices around the world. Springer International Publishing, Germany, Part IV, pp 417–432

    Google Scholar 

  • Rao P (2011) Integrating sustainability into global business practices—an emerging tool for management education. In: Gupte R, Venkataramani B, Gupta D (eds) Internationalisation of higher education. Excel Book Publishers, New Delhi, pp 60–73

    Google Scholar 

  • Romero MJR (1995) The role of the university in sustainable development: challenges and opportunities. High Educ Policy 8(4):26–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roorda, N (2001) AISHE: Auditing instrument for sustainable higher education. Dutch Committee for Sustainable Higher Education. www.eauc.org.uk/file_uploads/aishe-book1_5.pdf. Accessed 2 Apr 2014

  • Roy R, Potter S, Yarrow K (2008) Designing low carbon higher education systems: environmental impacts of campus and distance learning systems. Int J Sustain High Educ 9(2):116–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saini S, Rao P, Patil Y (2012) City based analysis of MSW to energy generation in India, calculation of state-wise potential and tariff comparison with EU. Procedia: Soc Behav Sci 37:407–416

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheunpflug A, Asbrand B (2006) Global education and education for sustainability. Environ Educ Res 12:33–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scott B (2010) A gate-to-gate life-cycle inventory of solid hardwood flooring in the EasternUS. Wood and Fiber Science, Society of Wood Science and Technology. The Sheridan press, Hanover, Pennsylvania, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Speller, P (ed) (1992) Building partnerships for sustainable development: Federal University of Mato Grosso. High Educ Policy 5(1):31–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Spranger S (2011) Calculating the carbon footprint of universities. Unpublished Master’s thesis in economics and informatics; Erasmus School of Economics, p 107

    Google Scholar 

  • Springett D (2005) Education for sustainability in the business studies curriculum: a call for acritical agenda. Bus Strategy Environ 14:146–159

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sterling S (2001) Sustainable education: re-visioning learning and change. The Schumacher Society, Schumacher Briefing No. 6. Green Books, Dartington, p 94

    Google Scholar 

  • Stubbs W, Cocklin C (2008) Teaching sustainability to business students: shifting mindsets. Int J Sustain High Educ 9(3):206–221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Kleef JAG, Roome NJ (2007) Development capabilities and competence for sustainable business management as innovation: a research agenda. J Clean Prod 15:38–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Velazquez L, Nora M, Margarita S (2009) Deterring sustainability in higher education institutions—an appraisal of the factors which influence sustainability in higher education institutions. Int J Sustain High Educ 6(4):383–391

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waheed B, Khan F, Veitch B, Hawboldt K (2011) An integrated decision making framework for sustainability assessment: a case study of Memorial University. High Educ Policy 24:481–498

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) (1987) Our common future. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Energy and Environment, Symbiosis Institute of International Business, Symbiosis International University, Hinjewadi, Pune, 411057, India

    Prakash Rao, Viraja Bhat & Shilpa Kulkarni

  2. Symbiosis Institute of Research and Innovation, Symbiosis International University, Lavale, Pune, 412115, India

    Yogesh Patil

Authors
  1. Prakash Rao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yogesh Patil
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Viraja Bhat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Shilpa Kulkarni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Prakash Rao .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Environmental Science, HAW Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Walter Leal Filho

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Rao, P., Patil, Y., Bhat, V., Kulkarni, S. (2015). Environment and Social Sustainability Approaches in Policy and Practice: A Case Study of Symbiosis International University, Pune, India. In: Leal Filho, W. (eds) Transformative Approaches to Sustainable Development at Universities. World Sustainability Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08837-2_31

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation