Gender and Sustainability in Higher Education
The Case of Female Leadership at Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana (Colombia)
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21975152 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Danny Jean Paul Mejía Holguín (0000-0003-4804-3790, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, corresponding author), Ana Elena Builes-Vélez (0000-0002-9655-8193, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana), Juliana Restrepo Jaramillo (0009-0002-3960-0989, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana), Juan Diego Martínez Marín (0000-0003-0844-7889, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana), Juan Diego Martínez (0000-0003-4121-2045, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue | 12 |
| Pages | 727 |
| Publication date | 2025-12-18 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Social Sciences (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2076-0760 • E-ISSN: 2076-0760 |
| Publisher | MDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT) |
| DOI | 10.3390/socsci14120727 |
| OpenAlex | W4417462147 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 12 |
This study addresses the limited empirical evidence on women’s contributions to sustainable development leadership within higher education institutions. Focusing on Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana in Colombia, we employed a mixed-methods approach that combines surveys, semi-structured interviews, and bibliometric analysis of women-led scientific publications and academic courses. Our findings demonstrate that women leaders at UPB significantly influence and enhance sustainable practices and policies, fostering a culture of sustainability through their formal roles and collaborative, empathetic leadership. Key characteristics include inclusivity, shared vision-building, and community responsibility. Their systematic thinking and holistic problem-solving contribute to more effective sustainability outcomes, integrating environmental values into curricula, campus operations, and community engagement. The positive impact of women’s presence in sustainability governance on the university’s performance and commitment to Sustainable Development Goals highlights the importance of the institutional context. The research highlights the importance of policies that strengthen women’s leadership in sustainability as well as for continuous measurement of their contributions within specific educational and research ecosystems
Corporate governance · Empirical research · Higher education · Social sustainability · Sustainability · Sustainability science · Sustainable development · Higher Education and Sustainability · Sustainability in Higher Education · Various Academic Research Studies
| Highly cited | No |
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