NEW: Self-Assessment Survey – DECODE Sustainability

Please note:

We use the term ‘university’ to describe any institution that offers education at the higher education level and is involved to a higher or lesser degree in carrying out research.
We use the term department to denote an academic unit, a faculty, a school or a college that is part of the university and is lead by its own decision making body (usually headed by a dean, or a similar executive) that reports to the central university administration (i.e. its executive board).

When it comes to your department’s education mission, is sustainability (say, the SDGs) addressed in the following areas? (please select all options that apply)

The department’s overall education strategy

The mapping and monitoring of information on the department’s efforts and achievements related to sustainability education (i.e. courses and programs paying attention to SDGs/the sustainability theme)

Providing development & training/peer learning opportunities for the department’s lecturers to learn about sustainability topics or teaching methods for ESD (Education for Sustainable Development) and CBL (Challenge-based learning)

Providing financial resources or additional staff time to the department’s academic staff, allowing them to further develop sustainability education

Regulations in the department that guide (say, restrict, encourage, permit) the department’s curriculum and the students’ educational portfolio in terms of attention for sustainability themes

On a scale of 1-7, and considering all your academic unit’s efforts, how would you rate the overall effectiveness of your unit in embedding sustainability in your education mission?

1 - not effective at all 7 - very effective

When it comes to your department’s research mission, is sustainability (say, the SDGs) addressed in the following areas? (please select the dimensions)

The department’s overall research strategy

The mapping and monitoring of information on the department’s efforts and achievements related to sustainability research (i.e. projects, publications, collaborations addressing SDGs/ grand societal challenges, sustainability themes)

Providing development & training/peer learning opportunities for the department’s academics and PhDs to learn about sustainability-oriented research topics or transdisciplinary research methods

Providing financial incentives (e.g. resources, prizes, or additional staff time) to the department’s academic staff, allowing them to further develop sustainability-oriented research or engage (with other project partners) in (collaborative) projects addressing sustainability themes

Regulations in the department that guide (say, restrict, encourage, permit) the department’s research portfolio in terms of attention for sustainability themes

On a scale of 1-7, and considering all your academic unit’s efforts, how would you rate the overall effectiveness of your unit in embedding sustainability in your research mission?

1 - not effective at all 7 - very effective

When it comes to your department’s societal engagement mission (its third mission), is sustainability (say, the SDGs) addressed in the following areas? (please select all options that apply)

The department’s overall community engagement & outreach strategy

The mapping and monitoring of information on the department’s efforts and events related to societal/community outreach (i.e. events, meetings, collaborations, reports, projects, publications) that address societal/sustainability-related themes and involve non-academic partners

The department’s work (e.g., in seminars, discussions, collaborations, projects) with external partners (e.g., municipalities, private business, NGOs, civic groups) on sustainability-oriented topics/challenges and sustainable Citizen Science with local community members

Providing incentives (e.g. resources, prizes, recognition) to the department’s academic staff, allowing them to engage with societal partners on topics/events/meetings addressing sustainability themes (e.g. social innovation, urban regeneration, healthy living, energy transition)

Providing structures/ platforms/ labs and facilities in the department to allow the department’s staff to work with external / community partners on issues/topics addressing SDGs / sustainability / social innovation (e.g. a Citizen Science lab, a Living Lab)

On a scale of 1-7, and considering all your academic unit’s efforts, how would you rate the overall effectiveness of your unit in embedding sustainability in your societal engagement mission (its third mission)?

1 - not effective at all 7 - very effective

When it comes to your department’s operations (i.e., the department’s support services, facilities, procurement, human resources, student administration, housing, energy & consumables), is sustainability addressed in the following areas? (please select all options that apply)

The department’s overall operations strategy

The monitoring, reporting and/or sharing of information on the department’s use of energy, staff travel patterns, waste management, recycling efforts, et cetera to build awareness of sustainability and the department’s carbon footprint

The sharing of sustainability (say, ‘green’) practices and expertise by the department’s support staff and the managers responsible for operations with colleagues inside and/or outside the department to complement the department’s expertise (e.g., through peer learning, communities of practice)

Providing financial incentives (e.g. investments, funds, prizes) for making the department’s operations and infrastructure more sustainable, reducing its carbon footprint and encouraging socially responsible behaviour

The setting of targets and the implementation of policies to increase operational efficiency and socially responsible behaviour (e.g., electricity and water usage, waste disposal, vehicle use, access to buildings) and/or the drawing up and enforcing of guidelines (e.g., on procurement, recruitment, working from home) to encourage awareness of sustainability among the department’s staff and students

On a scale of 1-7, and considering all your academic unit’s efforts, how would you rate the overall effectiveness of your unit in embedding sustainability in your operations?

1 - not effective at all 7 - very effective

When it comes to your department’s governance (i.e., the processes, structures, and decision-making mechanisms used to guide and direct the department's activities), is sustainability addressed in the following areas? (please select all options that apply)

The department’s overall strategy (personnel, finance, facilities, policies, academic programs, communication, public relations)

There is regular reporting and communication on the department’s sustainability efforts, such as through sustainability reports or through its reporting to rankings and ratings organisations that address sustainability and the ‘greening’ of the university

To address the department’s sustainability agenda, there is an established specific role in the department (e.g., a Sustainability officer, or Sustainability ambassador), or a Sustainability Steering Group

Providing funds, rewards or recognition (e.g., prizes) for the department’s staff to shape the department’s sustainability strategy and develop sustainable departmental policies

Working with other units in the university (e.g. its Green Office, the central strategy & policy office, the communications department, or HR department) as part of a network/working group/ community of practice to share practices and guidelines on responsible management and leadership and strategic management for sustainability in higher education

On a scale of 1-7, and considering all your academic unit’s efforts, how would you rate the overall effectiveness of your unit in embedding sustainability in your governance?

1 - not effective at all 7 - very effective

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SELF-ASSESSMENT SURVEY

Please note:

When it comes to your department’s education mission, is sustainability (say, the SDGs) addressed in the following areas? (please select all options that apply)

On a scale of 1-7, and considering all your academic unit’s efforts, how would you rate the overall effectiveness of your unit in embedding sustainability in your education mission?

When it comes to your department’s research mission, is sustainability (say, the SDGs) addressed in the following areas? (please select the dimensions)

On a scale of 1-7, and considering all your academic unit’s efforts, how would you rate the overall effectiveness of your unit in embedding sustainability in your research mission?

When it comes to your department’s societal engagement mission (its third mission), is sustainability (say, the SDGs) addressed in the following areas? (please select all options that apply)

On a scale of 1-7, and considering all your academic unit’s efforts, how would you rate the overall effectiveness of your unit in embedding sustainability in your societal engagement mission (its third mission)?

When it comes to your department’s operations (i.e., the department’s support services, facilities, procurement, human resources, student administration, housing, energy & consumables), is sustainability addressed in the following areas? (please select all options that apply)

On a scale of 1-7, and considering all your academic unit’s efforts, how would you rate the overall effectiveness of your unit in embedding sustainability in your operations?

When it comes to your department’s governance (i.e., the processes, structures, and decision-making mechanisms used to guide and direct the department's activities), is sustainability addressed in the following areas? (please select all options that apply)

On a scale of 1-7, and considering all your academic unit’s efforts, how would you rate the overall effectiveness of your unit in embedding sustainability in your governance?

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