Sustainability Reporting in State Universities: An Investigation of Italian Pioneering Practices

International Journal of Social Ecology and Sustainable Development, 4(2), April-June 2013, pp. 1-15

24 Pages Posted: 26 May 2013 Last revised: 2 Jun 2014

See all articles by Benedetta Siboni

Benedetta Siboni

University of Bologna - Department of Management

Carlotta del Sordo

University of Bologna - Department of Management

Silvia Pazzi

Independent

Date Written: 2013

Abstract

Recent years have witnessed an increasing interest towards sustainability reporting from scholars all over the world, especially focusing on large corporations. Research has only recently been carried out regarding sustainability reporting in the public sector; however, very few studies have been published with reference to universities. In Italy, despite the fact that sustainability reporting is not mandatory, two guidelines have been issued to promote it within state universities. To date, only few studies have been published on this topic. To bridge this gap, the current work aims to review and assess the state of sustainability reporting in Italian state universities and therefore it contributes to the international debate about the development of sustainability reporting in the public sector. In doing so, this paper represents one of the first attempts at investigating sustainability reports in universities, and more broadly in the public sector.

Keywords: Documentary Analysis, Guidelines for Sustainability Reporting, Higher Education, Italy

Suggested Citation

Siboni, Benedetta and del Sordo, Carlotta and Pazzi, Silvia, Sustainability Reporting in State Universities: An Investigation of Italian Pioneering Practices (2013). International Journal of Social Ecology and Sustainable Development, 4(2), April-June 2013, pp. 1-15, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2269892

Benedetta Siboni (Contact Author)

University of Bologna - Department of Management ( email )

Piazza Scaravilli 1
Bologna, Bologna 40126
Italy

Carlotta Del Sordo

University of Bologna - Department of Management ( email )

Piazza Scaravilli 1
Bologna, Bologna 40126
ITALY

Silvia Pazzi

Independent ( email )

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