Re-purposing Universities: The Path to Purpose

Abstract

As the extent of damage to environmental systems from our business-as-usual activity becomes ever more alarming, Universities as core social institutions are under pressure to help society lead the transition to a sustainable future. Their response to the issues, that they themselves have helped reveal, has, however, been widely criticised for being wholly inadequate. Universities can be observed to engage with sustainability issues in ad-hoc ways, with the scale of attention and commitment dependant mainly on the level of pressure exerted by stakeholders that works to overcome aspects of inherent inertia. Sustainability initiatives can therefore be regarded mainly as bolt-ons. This mirrors how other sectors, including businesses, have tended to respond. As the environmental and social crisis mounts and the window for adaptive change to ensure long-term wellbeing for all narrows, the pressure for deeper systemic change builds. It is in this context that transformation to a “purpose-driven organisation” has emerged as a systemic approach to change, enabling an organisation to align deeply and rapidly with society's long-term best interest and hence a sustainable future. Nowhere has this concept been taken forward more obviously than in the business sector. As business leadership towards purpose becomes more apparent, so the lack of action in this area by universities appears starker. In this paper we clarify what it means to be a purpose-driven organisation, why and how it represents a deep holistic response to unsustainability, and what core questions emerging from the business world university leaders can ask themselves to begin the practical journey to transform their institutions into purpose-driven universities.

Responding to climate change in Aotearoa New Zealand: Universities, neoliberalism and narratives of change

“…Researchers have emphasised that neoliberalism in not a monolith or inevitable, but is contested, and always has cracks that can be exploited (Bond et al, 2015). Hurth and Stewart (2022) argue that it is precisely universities' deep involvement with society and the economy which means they are well placed to challenge, re-structure and transform assumptions to deliver sustainable outcomes. This research therefore aimed to investigate how actors within universities are communicating, challenging and transforming the institutions' response to climate change in the context of neoliberal norms.…”

“…Cupples and Pawson (2012, p. 20) report that the decentralised nature of neoliberalism allows academics to ‘inject critical thinking or other forms of behaviour into its interstices or tactically play its game,’ and to ‘perform careerist subjectivities while indulging in forms of anti‐neoliberal critique.’ Researchers have emphasised that neoliberalism in not a monolith or inevitable, but is contested, and always has cracks that can be exploited (Bond et al, 2015). Hurth and Stewart (2022) argue that it is precisely universities' deep involvement with society and the economy which means they are well placed to challenge, re‐structure and transform assumptions to deliver sustainable outcomes. This research therefore aimed to investigate how actors within universities are communicating, challenging and transforming the institutions' response to climate change in the context of neoliberal norms.…”

No justice without sustainability: Taking the climate and environment literally in diversity, equity, and inclusion work.

“…Real-world and complex problems cannot be fully addressed from within academia, nor through predominant unidirectional research to practice paradigms of outreach and extension, or in the absence of authentic, integrative two-way models of community engagement (Weerts & Sandmann, 2008). Justice and answerability point to the mission of outreach and engagement, traditionally understood as a third or ancillary priority after teaching and research (Hurth & Stewart, 2022), being the primary objective to move the entire rationale of modern colleges and universities from a project of knowledge-inquiry to wisdom-inquiry (Maxwell, 2021).…”

Why Not Use the Sea? A Shared Value Approach to Sustainable Value Creation When Using Carbon Dioxide as a Valuable Resource in Manufacturing

“…However, they may include trade and standards organizations and draw on broader assets such as schools and universities (Porter and Kramer, 2011). By adopting a purpose of driving sustainability within their strategies (Hurth and Stewart, 2022), academic and research institutions such as universities can help drive the paradigm shift away from business-as-usual. This strategic positioning, however, will be most likely impactful if the institution maintains an operating and active presence through its participation in the business ecosystem through a cluster.…”