Metodología para la formulación de prácticas ambientalmente sustentables en instituciones de educación superior

Abstract

Environmental management determines actions to preserve, prevent or mitigate the environmental problems and impacts of our environment, thus promoting the use of natural resources in a responsible manner through the implementation of practices that remain in time and contribute to sustainable development and a better quality of life.

In this way, Higher Education Institutions and organizations in general wish to promote environmental conservation by incorporating practices that motivate awareness and culture about the behavior of the educational community and citizens with the environment.

However, at present it is not easy to access methodologies that allow institutions to progress efficiently in the implementation of tools and good practices for the use and conservation of natural resources in a sustainable way, and that additionally allow them to comply to the applicable legal requirements.

Based on the above and in order to carry out the consultancy, it is considered important to highlight concepts of environmental management in different universities such as the National University of Costa Rica: “The identification of environmental impacts especially those associated with human activities In university spaces, it is essential to establish objectives and goals in environmental management and promote a different university culture. (Avendaño, 2012)

At the National University of Costa Rica, with its environmental program, A sustainable campus, the objective among the population assumes greater awareness and respect for the planet we inhabit. The basic regulations to execute different activities related to environmental issues at UNA, are part of its Environmental Policy, approved by the University Council in 2003 (Avendaño & García, 2011). This regulation establishes that, from the research and promotion of student, academic, administrative and service activities, the environmental culture and sustainability of the campuses and their areas of impact are strengthened ”(Avendaño, 2012).

For this reason it is important to clarify the concept of sustainable university, as mentioned: “It is an environment that does not depend on resources that run out, whose development does not deteriorate the environment and whose community seeks to live well, being the basic element to achieve it, the development of an educational process that manages to sustain a process of real change over time. This process is set in a large time horizon and should generate continuous change at all levels, and should also involve all the members of the university community: students, professors, managers and general service personnel responsible for cleaning, monitoring or from coffee shops. ” (Rivas M. I., 2011)