The Institutional Dimension of Sustainability: Creating an Enabling Environment for Sustainability Transformation at USM

Abstract

Recognising the importance of strengthened institutional arrangements for the promotion of sustainability, Universiti Sains Malaysia has been taking steps to respond effectively to integrated approaches involving all the major stakeholders, especially the students. Over the years, USM has made strong commitments to internal and international efforts to prevent further irreversible environmental change and to promote sustainable development through a host of on-going activities such as Kampus Sejahtera, 2000, RCE-Penang, 2005, University in a Garden, 2006, Research University award, 2007, and the APEX University award, 2008. In order to create an enabling environment within which different sections of the university could implement sustainability depending on the demands of their discipline and special circumstances; USM has developed a new ‘sustainability integration model’, an innovative ‘sustainability assessment methodology’ and a new ‘Policy on Sustainable Development 2013’. In order to facilitate smooth and effective operationalisation, the policy is accompanied by an implementation log frame and a user guide. While there are major barriers for the enthusiastic integration of sustainability into the core activities of universities due mainly to the lack of awareness, understanding, workable models, difficulty in monitoring progress and above all, the apathy of senior level administration, the USM experience will show how in a modern university it can be practiced through committed and systematic approaches. What is innovative here is the use of a new SD-ESD concept model developed by USM, a new computerised methodology to assess sustainability, and a proactive management that promotes sustainability through targeted programs, new policies and procedures and focused financial support. The intention of this paper is to share USM’s model and working experiences to a wider group of practitioners in the hope that it will contribute to a process of institutional learning for sustainability.