Variation of greenness across China’s universities: motivations and resources
Variation of greenness across China’s universities: motivations and resources
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DOI：
10.1108/ijshe-10-2016-0196
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发表时间：
2018-01
影响因子：
3.1
通讯作者：
Wanxia Zhao;Yonghua Zou
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Wanxia Zhao;Yonghua Zou
目的本研究旨在探讨大学绿色度的跨院校差异，并分析其内在动力。设计/方法/方式本研究构建了一个大学绿色指数（UGI），并进行多元回归。结果-本研究发现两个维度内的变化，在垂直维度上，一流大学有显着较高的UGI比第2级大学，在水平维度上，农业和林业，工程技术和通才大学有显着较高的UGI比其他专业大学。不同大学的绿色度差异的动力在于其动机和资源，而这与我国高等教育管理体制，特别是经费分配机制有关。研究限制/影响-基于互联网搜索的绿色指数有一些固有的局限性。一是绿色信息表达与真实的的绿色成果之间存在差距。其次，由于中国高等教育体制的特殊性，本研究可能难以适用于其他国家。实际影响-实证结果的基础上，可以产生两个政策含义。首先，针对纵向维度变异问题，应启动相关制度变革，促进大学绿色化。第二，对于水平维度变化的问题，专业大学可以利用跨学科的方法来促进绿色化。独创性/价值-这项研究有助于学者和管理人员，以更好地了解正在取得的进展和成就，实现在中国的绿色大学的举措。
Purpose This study aims to examine the cross-institutional variation in university greenness and analyze its underlying dynamics. Design/methodology/approach This study constructs a University Greenness Index (UGI) and conducts multivariate regression. Findings This study finds variation within two dimensions; in the vertical dimension, top-tier universities have significantly higher UGIs than tier-2 universities, and in the horizontal dimension, agricultural and forest, engineering and technology and generalist universities have significantly higher UGIs than other specialist universities. The dynamics underlying the greenness variation lies in different universities’ motivations and resources, which are associated with China’s higher education administrative system, especially the mechanism by which funding is allocated. Research limitations/implications The Internet-search-based greenness index has some inherent limitations. First, there exists a gap between green information expression and real green achievement. Second, this research may be difficult to apply to other countries, because of the specific characteristics of China’s higher education system. Practical implications Based on the empirical results, two policy implications can be generated. First, for the problem of the vertical dimension variation, related institutional transformation should be launched to promote university greenness. Second, for the problem of the horizon dimension variation, specialist universities can take advantage of an interdisciplinary approach to promote greenness. Originality/value This research helps scholars and administrators to better understand the progress being made and the achievements realized with regard to green university initiatives in China.