Facilities management directors’ conceptualizations of sustainability in higher education

The purpose of this study was to investigate how a cohort of facilities management directors from Canadian universities conceptualize sustainable development, sustainable universities, the role universities play in achieving sustainability, key issues facing their university, and perceived barriers to implementing sustainability initiatives in their institutions. The research comprises of in-depth interviews with 37 facilities management directors. The interviews consisted of seven open-ended questions and two checklists focused on sustainable development and sustainable universities. The results were analyzed to identify common respondent themes. The majority of the respondents were interested in their university becoming sustainable, and felt universities had a key role in sustainability in general, however not all had a clear idea of what sustainable development and sustainable universities are. Almost all participants felt that environmental sustainability was the most important aspect of sustainable development, and often commented on resource use and waste reduction. The participants perceived the largest barrier of sustainability initiatives at their university to be financial and resource based, as well as resistance to change.

► We investigated how facilities management directors conceptualize sustainability and the university.
► Majority felt universities had a key role to play in creating a sustainable future.
► Most popular response to making university more sustainable was resource use and waste reduction.
► Largest barriers on campus identified as financial and resource based, and resistance to change.