Management perspectives on campus sustainability in Hong Kong

Abstract

This study explores administrative managers’ understanding of sustainability issues and perceptions of stakeholder salience in relation to campus environmental initiatives in the publicly-funded universities of Hong Kong.

Universities in Hong Kong and other parts of the world are increasingly active in addressing and raising awareness of environmental and broader sustainability issues through their research, teaching, and knowledge transfer activities and the operation of their physical facilities. Suggesting that a common understanding of sustainability and the university’s role is needed for institutions’ efforts to succeed, scholars in the emerging field of Sustainability in Higher Education have called for a greater understanding of internal university stakeholders as contributors to the work. The need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other campus environmental impacts in response to climate change challenges points to the critical role of facilities managers and other administrators as important internal stakeholders in higher education and other sectors.

A mixed-method approach including a survey and interviews is used to seek perceptions of facilities managers and other internal stakeholders in Hong Kong’s publicly-funded universities regarding sustainability, universities’ potential contributions to sustainability, the sustainable university and factors that may inhibit or facilitate the introduction of campus environmental initiatives. To assess perceptions of stakeholder salience, a series of multiple-choice questions is included in the survey regarding stakeholder power, legitimacy and urgency in relation to the introduction of campus environmental initiatives.

The findings suggest that facilities managers and other internal stakeholders do not have a shared understanding of sustainability issues and the university’s role. At a time when new government regulations are expected to increase pressure on campus and building management in higher education and other sectors, the findings further suggest that facilities managers may face obstacles in the years ahead. Staffing constraints at the entry level and lack of awareness among existing facilities management staff are identified, while assessments of stakeholder salience suggest that senior management may lack urgency with respect to campus environmental issues. Squeezed between junior staff and senior management in the university hierarchy, facilities managers’ capacity to respond to climate change challenges in the years ahead may be compromised.

The study will be of value by addressing a gap in the literature, as a theoretical contribution, by raising awareness, and as a potential contribution to policy and practice. The study identifies the need for greater understanding of sustainability issues in Hong Kong’s higher education sector, more decisive government action regarding climate change and related challenges, more engaged leadership from universities’ senior management, and enhanced support and training for facilities management staff. Survey responses further suggest new opportunities to improve understanding and awareness by engaging more stakeholder groups in the sector.