Higher education institutions are able to lead our world to fields of opportunity that could be expanded. Colleges and universities are leaders; they have the knowledge and ability to educate large number of their students each year on the most advanced ideas and technologies. We can say that universities and colleges possess the required opportunity and the ability to guide as well as lead the society towards more energy sources that are more sustainable. Universities have access to cutting edge technologies and knowledge of environmental challenges and associated technical solutions.
The leadership role of universities and colleges can be expressed in many different ways; one being the resources they invest in programs that are new or not fully understood. These are risks that colleges can and do take every day in order to achieve their quest of becoming more highly acclaimed and attract even better students. But they have the great advantage that they cannot fail. Instead, they take each failure as a learning tool for the next project or process. These educational steps may take a very long time, but once again colleges have no issue with time because they are institutions so entrenched into our society that they are and will always be there. Each year new students come to learn at these places of higher education and each year these colleges take new risks in order to not only teach the new but to learn about the opportunities available. It is absolutely vital for universities to apply their findings when capable in order to continue growth as the leaders of our society. By not using the resources at hand universities are contradicting their own studies and philosophies.
The complex issues can be addressed through the participation of higher education institutions as they are essential for promoting sustainable development via improving the ability of individuals. The outreach and partnership of the universities can further expand their scope for more sustainable developments. Many of the resource issues raised by the participants can be addressed by the partnership as they are becoming more and more experienced in the society. Universities can and have to lead by example through environment friendly institutional policies and practices by reducing their own impact on the environment, and implementing their own plans of sustainable solutions. Universities and colleges can potentially generate funds to further enhance the areas of research. A dynamic approach in the field of research could be a value addition to these initiatives.
In the 4th UNESCO Chair Conference for HESD (Higher Education for Sustainable Development), noticed that small changes such as starting additional course in HESD can help to integrate sustainability in all three areas; campus, community and curriculum to an extent. However, to have a concrete outcome in sustainability, positive approach from the entire university is required. So that development in all three areas; campus, community and curriculum are integrated in to each other. For example interdisciplinary calls for new learning approaches to be incorporated in curriculum and at the same time it has an effect n the relationship of community and university. This is also true for students, researchers and practitioners on campus. Whole sustainability concept development can be initiated through openness, participation, co-operation and dialogue. Dynamic leadership is a prerequisite for such changes that also give rise to recognition and exploration of enormous opportunities.
Sustainable design is a key component of a project. The higher education institutions role and their sustainability plan indicate complexity in assessing of sustainability metrics that meets the needs of all the stake holders.