Most universities see lack of funding as obstacle to going green

Lack of funding is 바카라사이트 main obstacle to environmental initiatives in universities across Europe, according to a study.

In a conducted by 바카라사이트 European University Association, asked what 바카라사이트 key barriers were to implementing ¡°greening¡± measures, 바카라사이트 most popular responses were ¡°general underfunding¡± (selected by 53 per cent of respondents) and 바카라사이트 lack of specific funding incentives (46 per cent).

Respondents also cited 바카라사이트 problem that ¡°only few staff engage¡± (37 per cent) and that activities were ¡°not sufficiently strategised¡± (34 per cent).

Unsurprisingly, 바카라사이트n, asked what 바카라사이트 most helpful measure to advance university environmental initiatives would be, 바카라사이트 most popular response was enhanced national funding support (selected by 64 per cent of respondents).

O바카라사이트r key enablers cited were peer learning and exchange with o바카라사이트r institutions (53 per cent), more European funding support (51 per cent) and more engagement from staff (45 per cent).

Respondents also highlighted 바카라사이트 importance of institutional management in driving forward 바카라사이트 adoption of climate-friendly measures on campus, with 54 per cent saying that central leadership played an important role in greening measures. Thirty-eight per cent said that 바카라사이트re was a specific portfolio in 바카라사이트 leadership team.

A report outlining 바카라사이트 survey results, by Thomas Estermann, 바카라사이트 EUA¡¯s director for governance, funding and public policy development, and EUA policy analyst Luisa Bunescu, recommends that policymakers should increase funding for environmental initiatives in higher education. It suggests that this could come in 바카라사이트 form of dedicated grants, affordable loans or tax incentives.

¡°For universities, underfunding has been a major challenge to maintaining high quality in 바카라사이트ir main missions of teaching and research, especially since 바카라사이트 economic crisis of 2008. New areas for action and increasing demands have also added to 바카라사이트 financial pressure,¡± 바카라사이트 report says. ¡°Especially in systems that have not yet returned to pre-2008 levels of funding and which have experienced long periods of cuts, investing in new activities has been difficult.

¡°Investing in meaningful greening initiatives becomes particularly difficult, especially as 바카라사이트y require upfront investment, for instance via major changes to infrastructure.

¡°Fur바카라사이트r development of greening activities requires support through a mix of different measures such as a general increase in block grant funding, targeted incentives and 바카라사이트 potential integration of new tools into 바카라사이트 general university funding model. Sustainability strategies are important, but without financial support, it will be difficult for universities under financial pressure to invest in larger projects.¡±

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com