Management systems for sustainable development on campus, a case study of University of Coimbra

Abstract

In this work the term “sustainable campus” was defined according to the author’s perception and important factors of sustainable campus were determined. A set of the most applied assessment tools for a sustainable campus are introduced and examined. A short overview of sustainable development on Portuguese universities is given and the University of Coimbra is introduced. Assessment tools are then analysed according to their ability to manage sustainable development on the campus of the University of Coimbra. Thereby six management frameworks to manage sustainable development on a campus level are created through the application of a plan, do, check, act cycle on assessment tools and through the combination of several indicators of these assessment tools with a formal environmental management tool. The best management system according to criteria of the University of Coimbra is chosen using a Multi Criteria Decision Analysis method. Finally, as a conclusion, an action plan for UC to become a sustainable campus according to the definition is proposed.