The price of sustainable development in Polish states and private universities in terms of natural capital theory and doughnut economics theory
Abstrakt
Working towards sustainable development in the 21st century requires cooperation between education, business and public administration to respond effectively to environmental and social challenges.
The need to take an interdisciplinary approach to implementing sustainability education in higher education institutions was highlighted in their 2018 research by Ismael Franco and other researchers, among others, who clearly indicated that a more effective approach to governance in higher education is essential, as sustainability issues become more acute and interconnected, collaboration becomes not only more important, but more difficult. Key problems in collaborative processes include a lack of involvement of key stakeholders such as teachers and students, lack of communication between stakeholders, low accountability, limited funding opportunities and limited stakeholder capacity for effective implementation (Franco, 2019)
The stated aim of the research has been met. A change in the valuation of university activities is needed - models that treat natural capital as a common resource in need of protection are rare. Investment in eco-infrastructure is associated with improved image, increased social trust o student engagement. Social capital is strengthened through actions in line with the doughnut economics model - around values, not just around economic calculation. The two sectors pursue different approaches, but which can complement each other in the higher education ecosystem.
Analysing the use of the following theories in the analysis of the sustainability measures undertaken: doughnut economics and natural capital theory, they found, among other things, that while public universities can more easily scale the social aspects of e.g. inclusion, in private universities the natural capital theory allows for faster valuation of assets for business partnerships, as private ones tend to undertake an adaptive strategy which is in line with the assumptions of the doughnut economics theory. In the universities studied, natural capital theory emphasises the environment and its value as a resource, whereas doughnut economics integrates social and environmental needs. The doughnut economics model is a theory of sustainable development when it does not cross ecological boundaries and meets the basic needs of all stakeholders. With unlimited needs and limited opportunities, natural capital cannot be replaced by other forms of capital, so it must be preserved. Some of the biggest challenges in the ongoing research, education and organisational transformation of universities include: insufficient communication, resistance to change, limited financial capacity in the face of significant infrastructure investment costs, financing of costly investments e.g. in green infrastructure, uneven involvement of universities resulting from different levels of bureaucracy and the scope of current regulations. It is also worth mentioning that the author encountered constraints during the course of the study - in particular distrust among private and public university staff towards the topic and the sharing of their own experiences. Future research will be related to increasing the research sample and deepening the research topic.
