Anthropogenic Actions and Sustainability in the University Context: An Embedded Case Study Analysis
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Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) exert a considerable environmental impact through their operations; frequently, a gap exists between stated sustainability principles and everyday operational practices. This article analyzes this reality by investigating anthropogenic actions within the university setting, proposing the embedded case study as a suitable methodological strategy to capture its internal complexity. In contrast to the limitations of the simple case study (which treats the university as a homogeneous unit), the embedded design allows for examining the main case through its constituent subunits (faculties, departments, administrative areas). The application of this approach in a practical case, through triangulation of documentary analysis and semi-structured interviews with actors at different levels (university presidency, coordination, program directors, and students), reveals a paradox of declarative coherence. The findings show a well-defined strategic framework, but a fragmented and uneven implementation, characterized by a disconnect in budgeting, the absence of local operational metrics, and a critical student awareness that finds no institutional channels to materialize. It is concluded that this methodology is essential for diagnosing the root causes of unsustainability, enabling the design of specific, contextualized, and effective intervention strategies that transcend general policies.
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