International Journal of Economy, Management and Social Sciences, 2(5) May 2013, Pages: 118-123

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International Journal of Economy, Management and Social Sciences

ISSN
2306-7276

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Evaluation of University Quality in Terms of Sustainable

Components of University: A Case Study of West Islam Abad
Campus of Islamic Azad University
Parivash Jafari 1, Nader G. Ghourchian 2, Mehdi Sadeghi *3
1,2,3

Department of Higher Education Management, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University(IAU), Tehran, Iran.

AR TIC LE INF O

AB STR AC T

Keywords:

By passing more than a decade of 21 century, the world experiences complicated and difficult
problems and challenges about development and way of life. Challenges evolve from values of
unsustainable societies. These challenges link together, therefore having strong political
commitment and effective actions are necessary to remove them. If developed humans are known
as a heart of development, then higher education of societies has a great responsibility to increase
awareness, knowledge, skills and required values to create sustainability in present and future. The
purpose of the study is to evaluate components related to a sustainable university of Islamic Azad
University of West Islam Abad Campus. The study has attempted to apply theories and models of
the sustainable university practically, especially the sustainable university in Islamic Azad
University to provide applicable results. The study is an applied research. Data collection has been
a descriptive survey. Evaluated components of the study including: ideal ideas, mission and
sustainable policy in university, organization structure and stakeholders corporation for sustainable
university, education for having sustainability, research for having sustainability, sources
management, food products and recycling, reconstruction and green construction, students life and
partnership, transportation, standards, green construction, management information system for
sustainable development in universities, academic freedom and faculty appointment and promotion
decisions, clear rights and responsibilities, accountability. Results have shown the university is in a
desirable status in 3 components of management information system of sustainable development
management, academic freedom, qualified appointment and promotion as well as accountability
and the rest of components are in undesirable condition.

sustainable development
sustainable university
evaluation of quality of sustainable university
Islamic Azad University

2013 Int. j. econ. manag. soc. sci. All rights reserved for TI Journals.

Introduction
The world constantly experiences serious challenges such as changes of climate, rapid decrease of natural resources, occurrence of natural
catastrophe, spread of infectious diseases (old and new ones), loss of habitat variation, violation of human rights, increase of poverty,
dependence of economic systems on continuous consumption, etc. [1]. Sustainable development around the world becomes a vehicle to
show needs of moving from current dominant models of development which seems unable to create a balance between people needs and
the world to achieve peace and prosperity [2].
Evaluation is known as a main factor of changing and transformation which is able to create and recreate fundamental conditions of an
individual and social quality of life. While the debate of education toward sustainable development can be found at the beginning of 1970s,
the first results of such debates appeared by holding Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro of Brazil. The agenda with 21 world formulated
plans to achieve sustainable development in 21st century was approved by 178 world leaders in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The agenda had 21
desirable models to develop economy and promoted life quality of the present generation without ignoring future generation rights toward
natural resources. Besides considering economic issues, social and environmental aspects and solutions would be provided to solve them.
Chapter 36 of 21 agenda related to education issues and social awareness. In this chapter asked Unescoto take steps in order to achieve 4
goals:

1. Improve and promote education quality: its focus is on life-long learning, and gaining knowledge, skills and values which are
essential for citizens to improve their life quality.

2. Change in curriculum: from pre-school to college levels curricula are a tool to transfer knowledge, so it should be considered and
revised. Thinking models and world stable values are vital.

* Corresponding author.
Email address: mehdisadeqi@yahoo.com

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Internat ional Jour nal of Economy, Mana ge ment and Social Sciences , 2(5) May 2013

3. Develop public awareness of the sustainable development concept: this provides the possibility of development of citizens who
are enlighten, active and responsible locally, nationally and internationally.

4. Train work force: constant vocational training of managers and staff especially those who work in industry and business leads to
foster them to choose sustainable conditions from production to consumption [3].
Universities as an academic, education and research reference legitimizes sustainable development process in local, national and
international society. If developed human beings are known the heart of sustainable development, the university can provide a generator of
awareness, knowledge and skills for humans according to various levels of education (junior college diploma, B.A, M.A, and Ph.D.) which
result in equipping graduates with wisdom, and environmental literacy, visionary literacy, sanitary, ecological as well as information
communication technology literacy. Therefore, the university can be applied as a development model in a larger society in a modern
paradigm [4].
A sustainable university is defined by the Velazquez et al. (2005), as:
"A higher educational institution, in its entirety or part, that addresses, involved and introduce, on a regional or a global level, minimize of
negative environment, economy, social, and health effects generated in their resource utilization in order to complete to its functions
teaching, research, outreach and partnership, and inside supervision ways to help society make the transfer for sustainable lifestyle [5].
Academic theorists and practitioners emphasize on auditing of sustainable conditions of the university as a first important step in a process
of transferring to the sustainable university. The audition should be vast and including the followings: mission, sustainable education,
charges and other features which are beyond traditional audition of environment. The audition (is done annually in ideal form) not only
provide a situation to adjust goals and activities, but also translate sustainable issues in a language to be comprehensible for decision
makers of higher schools and colleges. The audition can be used as a tool to analyze and announce past achievements as well as take
commitment for future improvement [6]. Therefore in this study fourteen components of sustainable university [7] have been evaluated to
study the quality of west Islam Abad Campus of Islamic Azad University.

Methodology
The researcher has tried to determine and identify the present condition of West Islam Abad Campus of Islamic Azad University in terms of
the sustainable university components. So the study has been an applied one and as a kind of descriptive survey. Descriptive methods of
statistics have been applied to analyze data.

Sample / Population
Statistical sample in this stage was including sub sets like: the president of the university, vice president of the financial affairs, vice
president of the academic and student affairs, vice president of the research affairs and the chairs of academic departments(25 persons).

Data collection instrument

A researcher-developed questionnaire has been applied to collect required data. The questionnaire included 75 items about various areas of
university life which was based on Sadeghi model of the sustainable university [7]. To formulate the questionnaire, the mentioned
components were considered and the items were developed according to them.
To get reliability coefficient before final implementation, a sample was randomly chosen and the questionnaire was conducted. Cronbach
was estimated through SPSS software and it was 0.912.
To get validity of the test, content validity was estimated and consulted by experts then the test was provided. Both experts opinions and
adaptation to aspects and components of sustainable university have been considered.

Testing hypothesis and findings analysis

How is the present condition of West Islam Abad campus according to the components of the sustainable university?
The status quo of the campus was identified according to its activities regarding to components of sustainable university. In fact its purpose
is to recognize university system generally to achieve a desirable condition in terms of components of the sustainable university. This step
was used to analyze a present gap between status quo and the desirable condition. In this study regarding to obtained results from status
quo, sub components of each component and summary of status quo as follows:

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Levels of Desirability
Considered Components
Desirable
Ideal ideas, mission and sustainable policy in university
Organization structure and stakeholder corporation for sustainable university
Education for having sustainability
Research for having sustainability
Sources management
Food products and recycling
Reconstruction and green construction
Student Life and partnership
Transportation
Standards
Management information system sustainable development in universities
Academic freedom and faculty appointment and Promotion decisions
Clear rights and responsibilities
Accountability

Pretty desirable

Undesirable
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

*
*
*
*

The university has different conditions in terms of components and subcomponents. Regarding to the first component the university has a
visionary, mission and goal about the sustainable development. However, there have not been formulated goals and missions in three areas
of education, research and offering expert services according to the sustainable development. So it has been in pretty desirable condition in
terms of the subcomponent. Regarding to commitment, the university has had no commitment to any contraction related to the sustainable
development (at national or international level).
In second component organization structure, stakeholders, corporation for the sustainable university, the university has had no mechanism
to establish students association in area of sustainable development. Therefore, the university has not built any organizational structure for
the sustainable development. It has not been thought about inside and outside stakeholders participation, especially instructors and
students. According to the obtained results in education for having sustainability, there have not been any disciplinary at the university
which had related courses regarding to the sustainable university. The university also has not done any attempts to create interdisciplinary
in terms of integrating sustainability with present disciplinary. There have not been held any new training or retraining courses;
conferences, seminars about the sustainable development for faculty members and staff; offered education for the sustainable development
to the society beyond the university; evaluated quality of education courses, curricula toward sustainability, students literacy toward
sustainable development; trained newcomers on this matter; offered internship opportunities about the sustainable development to students.
As a result, the status quo of the university in terms of all education components to meet sustainability has been evaluated undesirable.
Results obtained from the subcomponents of strategic research indicated that the faculty members of the campus have conducted some
researches especially in architecture and agriculture by taking the sustainable development approach. As a result in this component, the
university has been in pretty desirable condition.
Regarding to the subcomponents of the society, one of the purposes of Islamic Azad University in the 5 year plan has been to having
academic and research interaction with the industry. Results indicated the university has been in undesirable condition. Regarding to
financial support, there has not had any independent mechanism to support especially researchers for the sustainable development.
According to the results of resource management component, its subcomponent of financial rules, the university has been in pretty
desirable condition; reviewing the visionary document of Islamic Azad University showed there has been stress on developing system of
dynamic and overall planning as well as revising a budgeting system. In terms of the subcomponent of financial resources the university
has not had any mechanism to reuse returning capitals saved from the sustainable development projects which have conducted at the
university. In terms of the subcomponent of purchasing, the university has given priority to purchase recycling stuff, products with green
certification, cleansing products adopted with the environment, bulk items, and / or products which are not needed to be packaged,
however, there has been a gap to an ideal point. In terms of subcomponents of education, although the policy of Islamic Azad University in
the visionary document has been developed and completed a virtual university and provided virtual space on internet, the university has not
done any attempts to achieve this and been in undesirable condition in this component.
In terms of the subcomponent of decreasing greenhouse gases, the university has not done any attempts to measure spread of greenhouse
gases or sign convention of climate changes. However, it has taken some steps to decrease greenhouse gases by decreasing the use of fossil
fuel and developing green areas, which also there has been a gap to the ideal point. In subcomponent of protecting university energy, the
university has attempted by applying technologies with efficient energy consumption, however, there has not been any mechanism to
encourage members to consume energy correctly. In terms of subcomponent of renewal energy, the university has not purchased electricity
supply from renewal sources, replacing sources of energy, and has not invested on technology of renewal energy.
Obtained results from food products and recycling indicated there has been priority on purchasing food products from local farmers and
producers and the university has been in pretty desirable condition. But in agricultural activities and providing farm lands and producing
food stuff the university has not participated and not developed any mechanism to find geographical locations and season access to provide

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organic food products. It has not had any classified plan about inclusion of organic food, nutrition plan, and supported organic food
production. In terms of the subcomponent of recycling dishes, the university has been in desirable condition since it has used dishes which
were stainless dishes and omitted applying of foam products. In terms of the subcomponent of compost of food stuff and the area garbage,
recycling plan for office trashes; the university has not had any plans and been in undesirable condition.
Obtained results from reconstruction and green construction indicated one of the considered axis of Islamic Azad University in the 5 year
plan and the visionary document has been constant productivity, optimizing consumption of sources and preserving the environment,
however, practical attempts have not been considerably done so the considered component has had pretty desired condition at the
university. In terms of the subcomponent of receiving environmental certification for current buildings, the university has not had any green
building association certification but the policy of the university aimed to oblige having environmental certification for new construction.
In order to resistant current buildings also it has not been applied any equipment. Regarding to students life and participation, the
subcomponent of social services of the university, one of the general aims of Islamic Azad University in 5 year plan has been to increasing
levels of cooperation with the environment to promote constructive interaction, in this area students have offered social services through
Besij association and Red Crescent, so it seems the university has been in pretty desirable condition. The other aim of Islamic Azad
University in the plan has been to promoting and widespread cultural and human as well as Islamic values among students which West
Islam Abad Campus has tried to do various activities by identifying and attracting elite students so the Campus has been in pretty desirable
condition in this regard. However, in terms of subcomponent of sustainable competition of the university, West Islam Abad Campus has
held some competitions regarding to the sustainable development.
In terms of replacing public transportation, the university has contracted with taxi and bus services to transfer from the campus to the city
center, however, in terms of clean fuels such as electricity hasnt made any especial plan. The university has not also made any plan to use
bicycles or provide friendship pedestrian areas. Regarding to formulate parking policy, students have been forbidden to take vehicles to the
main area of the Campus. Regarding to the subcomponent of public transportation, the university has contracted with taxi and bus services
to transfer from the campus to the city center. But the university has not had any plan to encourage campus members to use car pool.
Generally, the university has been in desirable condition.
In terms of standards, however the 5 year plan of Islamic Azad University has drawn monitor and accreditation steps for the university,
there has not been any clear index or inside and outside evaluation for West Islam Abad Campus. Thus, the campus has not been in
desirable condition.
In terms of management information systems, the subcomponent of strategic information, one of the goals of Islamic Azad University has
been to improving technical and human infrastructure through establishing information systems according to recording, collecting,
distributing and reproducing information to take best decision. In this area the campus has been in pretty desirable condition.
In terms of independence of university, since one of the essential values of Islamic Azad university has been culture of freedom thinking,
criticism, theorizing, and problem solving. Results of the questionnaire indicated the university has been in desirable condition; however,
there is a gap to achieve the ideal point. In terms of hiring faculty members, the policy of Islamic Azad University has been to identifying
and attracting elite graduates. The obtained results from the questionnaire showed the campus has been in pretty desirable condition. In
terms of job security, members of the campus work as a faculty member after passing legal steps. Thus, the university has been in desirable
condition regarding to the subcomponent. In terms of method of auditing faculty members, one of the great goals of Islamic Azad
University has been to developing human sources by function of developing capacities. The university has been in pretty desirable
condition in performance of the subcomponent.
In terms of the subcomponent of adjustment between rights and responsibilities, however, there have been rules and regulations as well as
directives about students and faculty members responsibilities and official rules, there has had no clear and classified chart regarding to the
mentioned points at university.
One of the main values of Islamic Azad University has been responsible and accountable toward stake holders expectation. The collected
data showed the campus has tried to improve evaluation system to provide appropriate clarity for stakeholders; however, there has been a
gap to the ideal point.
According to the obtained results, the overall condition of the university has been at undesirable level (1.21) in terms of components of the
sustainable university ranged from 1 to 3.
An overall mark of the sustainable components

(3 * 2) (11 * 1)
1.21
14

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Inter nat ional Journal of Economy, Manage ment and Social Scie nces , 2(5) May 2013

Discussion and conclusion

Data analysis indicated that the university has been in undesirable condition in terms of ideal visionary, missions and sustainable policies.
Theoretically, the strategic move towards sustainability begins when someone, or many people, in the university dream about the
possibility that the institutions members behave according to the sustainable development philosophy. This means that all the resources
areused to accomplish the mission of the university in a sustainable manner. At this point, there are neither barriers nor constraints besides
imagination and creativity. At this stage, universities should define their own concept and definition of what a sustainable university is
about[5].
It has been reported that the component of structure of university and stakeholders participation in terms of the sustainable university in
undesirable condition. Institutions should partner with their local communities and regions to promote sustainable development. Such
partnerships break down the barriers between town and gown, support practical and experiential learning and research, and foster long-term
sustainable community development[8].
The results of analyzing education component to meet sustainability have been in undesirable condition. Knowledge is the key word in this
group of initiatives. Usually, they are created for teaching sustainability in order to change attitudes and behaviors that are affecting the
quality of lifeon the planet. Many schools around the world are making important strikes toward
necessary changes in education. [9].
The data analysis of research components has been in undesirable condition to meet sustainability. To help meet the vast research needs for
advancing sustainability and to capitalize on increasing demand for sustainability-related research, university should increase support for
research centers and institutions related to sustainability, and should consider establishing new ones[8].
Data analysis related to the resource management component has been reported in undesirable condition. Institutions should expand efforts
to become more sustainable in their operations. To help finance sustainability projection campus, institutions should investigate the creation
of mechanisms to reinvest the savings from these projects into additional sustainability initiatives
[8].
Data analysis related to the food stuff and recycling component has been reported in undesirable condition. Dining Services are addressed
to improve the quality of the food served in universities dining halls. Those programs have strong links with composting and recycling
projects. One of the main concerns is where the food comes from. The purchasing of organic food is promoted because the negative
impacts attributed to genetically engineered food [10]. In addition, it is also preferred that food comes from local family businesses.
Data analysis of green reconstruction and construction has been reported in undesirable condition. These initiatives are also called
ecological design, intelligent building, environmental building design, or healthy building. The basic idea is to concert all sustainability
principles in the design, construction, operation, and demolition of a university building. In most of the cases, old buildings are remodeled
or reconstructed taking into account environmental considerations. Intelligent buildings do not contain hazardous materials in their walls,
roofs, floors, and peripherals. Solar panels feed the energy needed. Energy and water conservation systems are in place. The equipment
used in their interiors is highly efficient. Furniture is made with environmental friendly materials. The quality of the interior air is
monitored with high quality ventilation systems, and landscaping promotes biological diversity. A few universities are involved in these
projects [11].
Data analysis related to students life and participation has been reported in undesirable condition. Sustainability can be made an integral
part of campus culture through various new programs. Institutions can create peer-to-peer student sustainable living programs; incorporate
sustainability into new student orientation and training for resident assistants; organize inter-dorm sustainability competitions; and endorse
efforts, such as the Campus Climate Challenge, that foster active citizenship and leadership among students. For their part, students should
work to conserve energy and water, reduce waste in their daily lives, and participate in sustainability outreach campaigns. Students should
also support their institutions sustainability efforts by approving increases in student fees for sustainability purposes. Finally, students
should hold administrators accountable for meeting the sustainability commitments that their schools have made[8].
Data analysis of the transportation component has been reported in undesirable condition. As the university community is growing,
universities are coping with transportation issues, and the environmental problems associated to it. However, it is often seen as an
environmental issue of minor relevance [12].
Data analysis of the standards component has been reported in undesirable condition. Standards are transparent and publicly known criteria
or benchmarks used to assess and inform education policy, provision, and performance [13].
Data analysis of management information system of the sustainable component at university has been reported in pretty desirable condition.
Information in the form of clear definitions of outputs and outcomes combined with accurate data on performance and results collected at
regular intervals enables sanctions to be imposed when specified standards are not met [14].

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Data analysis of academic freedom, qualified selection and promotion has been reported in pretty desirable condition. Without Academic
freedom, universities are unable to fulfill one of their prime functions: to be a catalyst and sanctuary for new ideas, including those that may
be unpopular. Academic freedom is not an absolute concept; it has limits and requires accountability [13].
Data analysis of rights and clear responsibilities has been reported in undesirable condition. Mutually agreed rights and responsibilities for
each element in the higher education system are essential for good governance [13].
Data analysis of the component of accountability has been reported in pretty desirable condition. Higher education institutions must be
accountable to their sponsors, whether public or private. Accountability does not imply uncontrolled interference, but it does impose a
requirement to periodically explain actions and have successes and failures examined in a transparent fashion. All interaction should occur
within the context of agreed rights and responsibilities. Buffer mechanisms, as already discussed, may be needed to help determine the
appropriate balance between autonomy and accountability [13].

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