Six-Stage Pyramid Model for the Implementation of a Holistic Sustainability Approach in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)

Abstract

Since 2015, society and businesses have been urged to implement procedures that would help to achieve the UN's 17 sustainable development goals. Higher education institutions want to become drivers of modern change and to contribute to achieving those targets agreed upon in Paris. Universities are encouraged to provide the required knowledge to the future employees and leaders, and also to act as an example of a sustainable organisation. And this means not just to talk about the required challenges and changes, not just to teach sustainability courses, but to implement the sustainability in its full range into HEI´s own procedures. That would provide a holistic approach. The aim of the chapter is to create a model that would enable to see the whole picture and help HEIs find their way to a more holistic approach to tackling sustainability issues at universities.