Embedding sustainability dimensions in university collections management: a “scientific journey” into a natural history museum

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this research aims at extending the knowledge on whether and how universities include sustainability dimensions in managing their collections. Precisely, the study focusses on the creation of a university museum (UM), as an embryonic stage of life during which management concerns both strategic and operational issues.Design/methodology/approachSustainability is envisioned as a multifaceted concept, composed of the economic, cultural, environmental and social dimensions. Resorting to an acknowledged theoretical model for sustainable development in museum management, a qualitative interpretative study is carried out, gathering data from multiple sources. The empirical setting is the University of Pavia, which has recently created a new Museum of Natural History (Kosmos).FindingsResults highlight how sustainability dimensions intertwin in UM creation. Moreover, the economic dimension emerges as a basement for the others. Value for the community, expressed in economic terms, must be ensured in UMs creation as well as throughout its entire life, in order to support cultural, environmental and social sustainability.Research limitations/implicationsFocussing on the embryonic stage of UMs life allowed to consider how sustainability is embedded in relevant strategic and operational decisions. Nevertheless, scholars are encouraged to replicate the study in other stages of UMs' life, in a way to provide insights on its dynamics.Practical implicationsUniversity collections managers can benefit from this research by acknowledging the role played by the economic dimension of sustainability. Notwithstanding their mission, universities should pay attention to extracting economic value from the management of their collections, as a means to ensure innovative and sustainable management on the cultural, environmental and social respects. Furthermore, this research suggests how a higher education system is able to create a new museum by relying on interdisciplinary competencies, which support sustainability since the embryonic stage.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the cultural heritage management literature by proposing an updated version of the sustainable development model for museums, which highlights the different relevance of the sustainability dimensions with particular regard to the UM creation and management.

Sustainability dimensions and World Heritage Site management: the case of the Royal Alcazar of Seville, Spain

“…In this sense, sustainability must be one of the core concepts that WHS management must include. As a result, sustainability principles refer to environmental, financial, heritage, and sociocultural aspects (see Table 1), among which an appropriate balance must be established to guarantee long-term sustainability (Brito & Cànoves, 2019;Jelinčić & Glivetić, 2020;Magliacani & Sorrentino, 2021;Sangchumnong & Kozak, 2018;UNEP & WTO, 2005;UNESCO, 2014). Sources : Eppich & Garcia-Grinda (2019); Liusman, Ho & Ge (2013); Magliacani & Sorrentino (2021); Nocca (2017); Stylianou-Lambert, Boukas & Marina (2014).…”

“…Regarding the analytical method used, we have followed the proposal made by Magliacani & Sorrentino (2021). This has not focused on the meaning of each word but rather on inferring the concept conveyed by the text about each sustainable dimension.…”

“…For the purpose of this paper, sustainable management is related to actions aimed at protecting and conserving a site with other actions that develop and improve its economic role, without undermining respect for the local population, cultural tourists, the site, and the environment (UNESCO, 2014). Sustainability is a multifaceted concept, composed of four dimensions: financial, heritage, sociocultural, and environmental (Jelinčić & Glivetić, 2020;Magliacani & Sorrentino, 2021). Given the relevance of WHSs, both in their economic and cultural aspects and in the need to obtain positive performance, a growing concern has arisen about those responsible for their management and the research community to analyse the factors to consider in the sustainable management of cultural heritage and the information systems to use (Fresneda & Lobo, 2014;UNESCO, 2014).…”

“…Given the relevance of WHSs, both in their economic and cultural aspects and in the need to obtain positive performance, a growing concern has arisen about those responsible for their management and the research community to analyse the factors to consider in the sustainable management of cultural heritage and the information systems to use (Fresneda & Lobo, 2014;UNESCO, 2014). The lack of dialogue between culture and management has led to the neglecting of crucial issues of value creation processes within the sector, such as sustainability in its economic, social, cultural, and environmental dimensions (Magliacani & Sorrentino, 2021). Regarding the performance measurement system in the cultural sector, several authors have noted that there are many publications related to museum management and information systems (Magliacani & Sorrentino, 2021;Pop & Borza, 2016), but very few of them have taken WHSs as a study subject (Badia, 2018;Baraldi, 2014).…”

“…The lack of dialogue between culture and management has led to the neglecting of crucial issues of value creation processes within the sector, such as sustainability in its economic, social, cultural, and environmental dimensions (Magliacani & Sorrentino, 2021). Regarding the performance measurement system in the cultural sector, several authors have noted that there are many publications related to museum management and information systems (Magliacani & Sorrentino, 2021;Pop & Borza, 2016), but very few of them have taken WHSs as a study subject (Badia, 2018;Baraldi, 2014). In this sense, Ringbeck (2018) identified this lack of management systems, and the absence and inadequately implemented management plans as being among the factors most reported in the compliance reports that UNESCO prepares for each WHS.…”