Higher Education Institutions, Centres of Cultural Change Towards Sustainable Development – Qatar University as a Case Study
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May 29, 2025
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Sahar El Sayed
https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6191-7946
https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6191-7946
Abstract
The role of higher education institutions has significantly shifted towards deeper engagement with the local communities, especially when it comes to social and sustainable human development. The primary objectives of the strategic planning for Qatar University, as outlined in this mixed-method research case study, reflect the state's visions and aspirations for sustainable development, with higher education serving as a central pillar. Conducting high quality research on sustainable development, and providing the students with the skills they need, as well as supporting them in their transition from education into professional lives, are essential factors in building a sustainable society. The empirical analysis in this study highlights the need for further research on sustainable human development with a focus on the social and cultural dimensions of the process. Higher education institutions’ involvement with the local community, local labor market, and the industrial sector are essential tools for them to cope with their new role and the rising socio-economic challenges.
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Keywords
SustainabilityHigher educationSocial sustainabilityQatar university
References
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Žalėnienė, I., & Pereira, P. (2021). Higher education for sustainability: A global perspective. Geography and Sustainability, 2(2), 99–106.
Al-Kuwari, M. M., Du, X., & Koç, M. (2021). Performance assessment in education for sustainable development: A case study of the Qatar education system. Prospects, 1–15.
Angelaki et al. (2024). Towards more sustainable higher education institutions: Implementing the sustainable development goals and embedding sustainability into the information and computer technology curricula. Education and Information Technologies, 29(4), 5079–5113.
Arar, K., Sellami, A., Sawalhi, R.. (2023). Higher education and scientific research in the Arabian Gulf states: Opportunities, aspirations and challenges. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003222750
Aver, B., Fošner, A., & Alfirević, N. (2021). Higher education challenges: Developing skills to address contemporary economic and sustainability issues. Sustainability, 13(22), 12567.
Barth, M. (2014). Implementing sustainability in higher education: Learning in an age of transformation. Routledge.
Bedard-Vallee, A., James, C., & Roberge, G. (2023). Elsevier 2023 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Mapping. Elsevier Data Repository, V1, doi: 10.17632/Y2zyy9vwzy.1.
Beringer, A., & Adomßent, M. (2008). Sustainable university research and development: Inspecting sustainability in higher education research. Environmental Education Research, 14(6), 607–623.
Career Development Center. (2023). Career Development Center | Qatar University (qu.edu.qa). Qatar University.
Carlsson, B., & Fridh, A. C. (2002). Technology transfer in the United States universities. A survey and statistical analysis. Journal of Evolutionary Economics, 12(1–2), 199–232.
Center for Sustainable Development. (2023). Center for Sustainable Development | Qatar University (qu.edu.qa). Qatar University.
Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method approaches (3rd ed.). SAGE.
Daniela et al. (2018). Sustainable higher education and technology-enhanced learning (TEL). Sustainability, 10(11), 3883.
Dillard, J., Dujon, V., & King, M. C. (2008). Understanding the social dimension of sustainability. Routledge.
Figueiró, P. S., & Raufflet, E. (2015). Sustainability in higher education: a systematic review with focus on management education. Journal of Cleaner Production, 106, 22–33.
General Secretariat for Development Planning. (2008). National Vision 2030.
Heinberg, R. (2005a). Powerdown: Options and actions for a post-carbon world. European Business Review, 17(5).
Heinberg, R. (2005b). The party’s over: Oil, war and the fate of industrial societies. New Society Publishers.
Ibrahim, A., Barnawi, O. Z.. (2023). The past, present, and future of higher education in the Arabian Gulf region: Critical comparative perspectives in a neoliberal era. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003049609
Kristensen, H. S., & Mosgaard, M. A. (2020). A review of micro level indicators for a circular economy–moving away from the three dimensions of sustainability? Journal of Cleaner Production, 243, 118531.
Kuhlman, T., & Farrington, J. (2010). What is sustainability? Sustainability, 2(11), 3436–3448.
Lozano et al. (2013). Advancing higher education for sustainable development: international insights and critical reflections. In Journal of Cleaner Production (Vol. 48, pp. 3–9). Elsevier.
McCowan, T., & (Firm), P. (2019). Higher education for and beyond the sustainable development goals. Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19597-7
Menon, S., & Suresh, M. (2020). Synergizing education, research, campus operations, and community engagements towards sustainability in higher education: A literature review. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 21(5), 1015–1051.
Mogra, S., & Furlan, R. (2017). Public Realm at Qatar University Campus: Perception and sustainability of Open Green Spaces.
Moini et al. (2009). The Reform of Qatar University. Monograph. ERIC.
Nawaz, W., & Koç, M. (2020). Industry, university and government partnerships for the sustainable development of knowledge-based society: drivers, models and examples in US, Norway, Singapore and Qatar. Springer.
Perkmann et al. (2013). Academic engagement and commercialisation: A review of the literature on university–industry relations. Research Policy, 42(2), 423–442.
Qatar University. (2010). QU Strategic plan 2010-2013. brochure (qu.edu.qa).
Qatar University. (2013). Qatar University Strategic Plan 2013-2016. qu-strategic-plan-2013-2016-en.pdf.
Qatar University. (2014). Annual Report 2013-2014. QU-Annual-report-En.pdf.
Qatar University. (2015). Annual Report, 2014-2015. QU-Annual-report-2015-English.pdf.
Qatar University. (2017). Annual Report, 2016-2017. QU-Annual-report-2015-English.pdf.
Qatar University. (2018). Qatar University Strategic Plan 2018-2023. https://www.qu.edu.qa/static_file/qu/.
Qatar University. (2024). https://www.qu.edu.qa/sites/en_US/about.
Salas-Zapata, W. A., & Ortiz-Muñoz, S. M. (2019). Analysis of meanings of the concept of sustainability. Sustainable Development, 27(1), 153–161. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.1885
Schneider, M., & Preckel, F. (2017). Variables Associated with Achievement in Higher Education: A Systematic Review of Meta-Analyses. Psychological Bulletin, 143(6), 565–600. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000098
SCPOUS. (2024). New: See at one glance Sustainable Development Goals mapped to this organization. https://www.scopus.com/pages/organization/60072749#tab=sdgs
Seghezzo, L. (2009). The five dimensions of sustainability. Environmental Politics, 18(4), 539–556. https://doi.org/10.1080/09644010903063669
Shah, M., Bennett, A., Southgate, E.. (2015). Widening higher education participation: a global perspective (1st ed.). Chandos Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1016/C2014-0-03640-4
Shephard, K. (2015). Higher education for sustainable development. Springer.
Tasdemir, C., & Gazo, R. (2020a). Integrating sustainability into higher education curriculum through a transdisciplinary perspective. Journal of Cleaner Production, 265, 121759.
Tasdemir, C., & Gazo, R. (2020b). Integrating sustainability into higher education curriculum through a transdisciplinary perspective. Journal of Cleaner Production, 265, 121759.
Tilbury, D. (2004). Environmental education for sustainability: A force for change in higher education. In Higher education and the challenge of sustainability: Problematics, promise, and practice (pp. 97–112). Springer.
Tilbury, D. (2011). Higher education for sustainability: A global overview of commitment and progress. Higher Education in the World, 4(1), 18–28.
Wiek et al. (2015). Operationalising competencies in higher education for sustainable development. In Routledge handbook of higher education for sustainable development (pp. 241–260). Routledge.
Yin, R. K. (2014). Case study research: Design and methods (applied social research methods). Sage Publications Thousand Oaks, CA.
Zaidan, E., Belkhiria, E., & Wazen, C. (2023). Universities of the Future as Catalysts for Change: Using the Sustainable Development Goals to Reframe Sustainability–Qatar University as a Case Study. In the Sustainable University of the Future: Reimagining Higher Education and Research (pp. 1–23). Springer.
Žalėnienė, I., & Pereira, P. (2021). Higher education for sustainability: A global perspective. Geography and Sustainability, 2(2), 99–106.
How to Cite
El Sayed, S. . (2025). Higher Education Institutions, Centres of Cultural Change Towards Sustainable Development – Qatar University as a Case Study. Academic Network for Development Dialogue (ANDD) Paper Series, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.29117/andd.2024.018
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