Abstract
environmental
issues and the call for sustainable growth. University leaders have the opportunity
to move beyond simply acknowledging sustainability challenges and to take
effective action. Therefore, this study aimed to explore sustainability consciousness
among university stakeholders of a selected institution in South Africa. Interpretative
phenomenological approach in a qualitative design was adopted to investigate stakeholders
lived experiences of sustainability consciousness. Participants in the study
included students, lecturers as well as two administrative staff members. All participants
completed an 8-week sustainability Short Learning Program (SLP). Data was collected
through unstructured in-depth interviews with the participants and analyzed
thematically using Atlas.ti version 22 for thematic coding. Intercoder reliability was
ensured through dual independent analysis. The study’s findings highlight the importance
of universities to not only prioritize sustainability awareness, but also to act as
catalysts for change by integrating sustainability across all academic disciplines and
promoting sustainable practices among stakeholders. The paper recommends
amongst others that HEIs infuse sustainability into all fields, engage all stakeholders in
campus sustainability efforts, and adopt organizational theories aligned with
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) frameworks.