SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES FOR HIGHER LEARNING: BASRA UNIVERSITY'S PATH TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
Abstract
The sustainability of universities is contingent upon the implementation of a holistic approach to sustainable development in higher education. This approach necessitates the integration of environmental considerations into all facets of university operations and activities, forming the foundational framework for developing environmental strategies within universities. However, the evolution and effective execution of these sustainability strategies require the establishment of partnerships with society, industry, and environmental groups, as well as the enhancement of their capacity to continuously enhance the overall performance of the university. Achieving continuous improvement in university performance becomes challenging without prior knowledge of potential changes in the university's environment. Consequently, the development of a comprehensive strategy for environmental sustainability becomes imperative, as it ensures that universities remain responsive to improvements by comprehending and adapting to potential environmental changes.
This research paper, titled "The Impact of the University's Environmental Sustainability Strategy on the Continuous Improvement of Overall University Performance," seeks to investigate the correlation between a university's environmental sustainability strategy and its overall performance. The University of Basra was selected as the field of study due to its historical significance as one of Iraq's oldest universities, its national and international scientific reputation, and its need for environmental sustainability initiatives to address the rapid changes in Iraq's social, economic, and political environment.
The central hypothesis of this research posits that there is a statistically significant effect of the university's environmental sustainability strategy on the continuous improvement of its overall performance. To address this hypothesis, the research was organized into theoretical and field components aimed at addressing the core research question: "To what extent can the environmental sustainability strategy of the University of Basra contribute to achieving continuous improvement in the overall performance of the university?"
The research focused on a sample of teachers specializing in environmental studies at the University of Basra, given their profound theoretical and practical knowledge of sustainable university environments. A checklist was employed as a data collection tool to examine the role that the university's environmental sustainability strategy plays in driving continuous improvements in its overall performance.
The research yielded several key findings, the most significant of which was the establishment of a statistically significant relationship between the university's environmental sustainability strategy and the continuous improvement of overall performance at the University of Basra. This finding underscores the importance of adopting and implementing comprehensive sustainability strategies within higher education institutions to not only address environmental challenges but also enhance their overall effectiveness and performance
