A Tale of Two (or More) Sustainabilities: A Q Methodology Study of University Professors’ Perspectives on Sustainable Universities
If change for sustainability in higher education is to be effective, change efforts must be sensitive to the institutional culture in which they will be applied. Therefore, gaining insight into how institutional stakeholders engage with the concept of sustainable universities is an important first s...
Main Authors: | , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
MDPI AG
2014-03-01
|
Series: | Sustainability |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/6/3/1521 |
id |
doaj-1861c38e3037491fa0cc8b7727ffb2fb |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-1861c38e3037491fa0cc8b7727ffb2fb2020-11-24T22:57:51ZengMDPI AGSustainability2071-10502014-03-01631521154310.3390/su6031521su6031521A Tale of Two (or More) Sustainabilities: A Q Methodology Study of University Professors’ Perspectives on Sustainable UniversitiesPaul Sylvestre0Tarah Wright1Kate Sherren2School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, 6100 University Avenue, Suite 5010, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H4R2, CanadaEnvironmental Science Programs, Dalhousie University, Life Sciences Center, Rm 822, 1355 Oxford Street B3H4R2, CanadaSchool for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, 6100 University Avenue, Suite 5010, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H4R2, CanadaIf change for sustainability in higher education is to be effective, change efforts must be sensitive to the institutional culture in which they will be applied. Therefore, gaining insight into how institutional stakeholders engage with the concept of sustainable universities is an important first step in understanding how to frame and communicate change. This study employed Q methodology to explore how a group of professors conceptualize sustainable universities. We developed a Q sample of 46 statements comprising common conceptions of sustainable universities and had 26 professors from Dalhousie University rank-order them over a quasi-normal distribution. Our analysis uncovered four statistically significant viewpoints amongst the participants: ranging from technocentric optimists who stress the importance of imbuing students with skills and values to more liberal arts minded faculty suspicious of the potential of sustainability to instrumentalize the university. An examination of how these viewpoints interact on a subjective level revealed a rotating series of alignments and antagonisms in relation to themes traditionally associated with sustainable universities and broader themes associated with the identity of the university in contemporary society. Finally, we conclude by discussing the potential implications that the nature of these alignments and antagonisms may hold for developing a culturally sensitive vision of a sustainable university.http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/6/3/1521sustainability in higher educationeducation for sustainable developmentQ methodpluralismorganizational change |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Paul Sylvestre Tarah Wright Kate Sherren |
spellingShingle |
Paul Sylvestre Tarah Wright Kate Sherren A Tale of Two (or More) Sustainabilities: A Q Methodology Study of University Professors’ Perspectives on Sustainable Universities Sustainability sustainability in higher education education for sustainable development Q method pluralism organizational change |
author_facet |
Paul Sylvestre Tarah Wright Kate Sherren |
author_sort |
Paul Sylvestre |
title |
A Tale of Two (or More) Sustainabilities: A Q Methodology Study of University Professors’ Perspectives on Sustainable Universities |
title_short |
A Tale of Two (or More) Sustainabilities: A Q Methodology Study of University Professors’ Perspectives on Sustainable Universities |
title_full |
A Tale of Two (or More) Sustainabilities: A Q Methodology Study of University Professors’ Perspectives on Sustainable Universities |
title_fullStr |
A Tale of Two (or More) Sustainabilities: A Q Methodology Study of University Professors’ Perspectives on Sustainable Universities |
title_full_unstemmed |
A Tale of Two (or More) Sustainabilities: A Q Methodology Study of University Professors’ Perspectives on Sustainable Universities |
title_sort |
tale of two (or more) sustainabilities: a q methodology study of university professors’ perspectives on sustainable universities |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Sustainability |
issn |
2071-1050 |
publishDate |
2014-03-01 |
description |
If change for sustainability in higher education is to be effective, change efforts must be sensitive to the institutional culture in which they will be applied. Therefore, gaining insight into how institutional stakeholders engage with the concept of sustainable universities is an important first step in understanding how to frame and communicate change. This study employed Q methodology to explore how a group of professors conceptualize sustainable universities. We developed a Q sample of 46 statements comprising common conceptions of sustainable universities and had 26 professors from Dalhousie University rank-order them over a quasi-normal distribution. Our analysis uncovered four statistically significant viewpoints amongst the participants: ranging from technocentric optimists who stress the importance of imbuing students with skills and values to more liberal arts minded faculty suspicious of the potential of sustainability to instrumentalize the university. An examination of how these viewpoints interact on a subjective level revealed a rotating series of alignments and antagonisms in relation to themes traditionally associated with sustainable universities and broader themes associated with the identity of the university in contemporary society. Finally, we conclude by discussing the potential implications that the nature of these alignments and antagonisms may hold for developing a culturally sensitive vision of a sustainable university. |
topic |
sustainability in higher education education for sustainable development Q method pluralism organizational change |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/6/3/1521 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT paulsylvestre ataleoftwoormoresustainabilitiesaqmethodologystudyofuniversityprofessorsperspectivesonsustainableuniversities AT tarahwright ataleoftwoormoresustainabilitiesaqmethodologystudyofuniversityprofessorsperspectivesonsustainableuniversities AT katesherren ataleoftwoormoresustainabilitiesaqmethodologystudyofuniversityprofessorsperspectivesonsustainableuniversities AT paulsylvestre taleoftwoormoresustainabilitiesaqmethodologystudyofuniversityprofessorsperspectivesonsustainableuniversities AT tarahwright taleoftwoormoresustainabilitiesaqmethodologystudyofuniversityprofessorsperspectivesonsustainableuniversities AT katesherren taleoftwoormoresustainabilitiesaqmethodologystudyofuniversityprofessorsperspectivesonsustainableuniversities |
_version_ |
1725648944888807424 |