Towards a sustainability reporting guideline in higher education

Purpose So far, sustainability reporting in higher education is in a very early stage – partly, because of the lack of an established and widely recognized sustainability reporting framework for higher education institutions (HEIs). Therefore, a modification of the sustainability code for the use in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of sustainability in higher education 2018-01, Vol.19 (2), p.218-232
Main Authors: Huber, Sandra, Bassen, Alexander
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accountability
Administrative Principles
Benchmarking
Business metrics
Content Analysis
Context Effect
Cost Effectiveness
Councils
Design modifications
Education
Foreign Countries
Governance
Guidelines
Higher Education
Higher education institutions
Principles
Rating Scales
Society
Stakeholders
Sustainability
Sustainability reporting
Sustainable development
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Summary:Purpose So far, sustainability reporting in higher education is in a very early stage – partly, because of the lack of an established and widely recognized sustainability reporting framework for higher education institutions (HEIs). Therefore, a modification of the sustainability code for the use in the higher education context was recently developed in Germany. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate this modification from an academic point of view. Design/methodology/approach The evaluation of the sustainability code is based on selected reporting principles drawn from frameworks of sustainability and financial reporting. Findings The evaluation shows that to a large extent, the modification of the sustainability code for HEIs contributes to the fulfillment of the selected reporting principles. However, it also became evident that there is still room for improvement, especially in terms of clarity and the inclusion of material aspects. Practical implications The need for an implementation manual regarding the modified HEI-specific sustainability code is emphasized, as the sustainability code requires further clarification to be manageable for HEIs. Originality/value This paper provides suggestions for the further development of a sustainability reporting guideline for HEIs to enhance its alignment with both sustainability reporting principles and the needs of HEIs.
ISSN:1467-6370
1758-6739
DOI:10.1108/IJSHE-06-2016-0108