Enhancing environmental management in universities through participation: the case of the University of Córdoba

Abstract This article illustrates the methodology for a participatory process that encourages the campus community to help improve the environmental management of their institution, as an example of the effective integration of this dimension of sustainability into higher education. Harnessing a participatory approach, two proposals are made: the creation of a forum for discussing the institution’s main issues, strengths and weaknesses in terms of environmental management, and boosting expectations and generating proposals and action measures to be conveyed via a range of documents throughout the process. The main result of its implementation at the Spanish University of Cordoba has been the development of a Participatory Environmental Action Plan with a set of goals, aims and objectives, indicators and promoters. This process can be extrapolated to other organizations wishing to improve their environmental management by involving their community members in their advance towards sustainability, thereby contributing to the environmental awareness and education of the actors involved.