Toward a Sustainable University

This book proposes an integrated methodology for developing and implementing a sustainable university model, one that aligns academic institutions with the global imperatives of environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and innovation. Positioned at the intersection of higher education, sustainability science, and global collaboration, the book offers both theoretical grounding and actionable strategies for university leaders, educators, policymakers, and institutional planners seeking to catalyze systemic transformation. At its core, the book argues that universities must evolve beyond their traditional roles as knowledge producers to become proactive agents of sustainable development. The proposed framework emphasizes the interdependence of global partnerships and co-creation as essential mechanisms for institutional transformation. By forging cross-border academic alliances, universities can expand their capacity to address complex global challenges, share resources and expertise, and co-develop contextually relevant solutions. These partnerships, however, must go beyond conventional exchange models to embrace reciprocity, mutual learning, and long-term collaboration rooted in shared values. The book also advances a redefinition of sustainability in higher education, extending beyond environmental performance to encompass economic viability, social inclusion, ethical governance, and intergenerational equity. It advocates for embedding the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the institutional fabric-not merely as thematic areas of research, but as organizing principles for decision-making, teaching, infrastructure, and community engagement. Inhaltsverzeichnis Chapter 1: The Global Imperative for Sustainable Development and The Role of Higher Education.- Chapter 2: The Negentropic University - Re Commoning Planetary Computational Knowledge.- Chapter 3: How Can Universities Be Drivers of A Sustainable And Just Transition? Insights From The Italian Context And The University of Trieste.- Chapter 4: Co-Creation and Stakeholder Engagement For Sustainability In Higher Education.- Chapter 5: Leveraging University-Based Collaborative Governance For Sustainable Outcomes: Lessons From Portland State University s National Policy Consensus Center.- Chapter 6: From Classrooms To Campuses: Driving Sustainability Transformations Through Multidisciplinary Education And Green Governance In Campuses.- Chapter 7: Beyond Metrics: Toward A Dynamic Co-Creation Framework For Strategy, Performance, and Long-Term Impact.- Chapter 8: Why Not Change The World: The Global Rotation Program Through The Transnational Living Lab.- Chapter 9: The Green Turn And The Search For Legitimacy: Reimagining The University In An Age of Planetary Crisis.- Chapter 10: Cultural Collaborations Towards Regenerative Futures: Italy And Vietnam's Sustainable Approach To Adaptive Reuse Pedagogy In Ho Chi Minh City.- Chapter 11: Introducing the CISU Model: Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) Driving Sustainable University Education.- Chapter 12: Case Study of Different Universities - Implementing A Sustainable Campus Model Case Study 01- Vietnam: The Case of University of Econ'omics Ho Chi Minh City And A Context-Specific Framework For Phased Sustainability Transformation.- Chapter 13: Designing A Green University: Sutd And Singapore s New Ecology of Higher Learning. Autorenportrait Assoc. Prof. Tu Anh Trinh, PhD. is a senior lecturer and the Director of the Institute of Smart City and Management at the College of Technology and Design, UEH. In 2025, she becomes an associate professor, reflecting her significant contributions to the field. Her expertise is further demonstrated through her leadership in transdisciplinary research, combining the fields of sustainability, smart cities, urban and transportation planning, road safety, air transport economics. Assoc. Prof. Trinh's academic excellence is underscored by her extensive publication record in prestigious journals and conference proceedings, marking her as a prominent contributor to her field. Her academic influence extends internationally, as she frequently acts as a guest lecturer, supervisor, and reviewer for master's and Ph.D. candidates at esteemed institutions such as the University of Trieste, Hasselt University, Thammasat University, and Handong Global University. Assoc. Prof. Trinh is a key figure in the organization of international conferences, serving as co-chair for notable events including the International Conference on Sustainable Development in Civil, Urban, and Transportation Engineering (CUTE-2016, 2018), the Aviation Future: Challenges and Solutions (AFCS, 2020), the Resilience by Technology and Design (RTD-2022, 2024, 2026), and the Sustainable University Development: Opportunities and Challenges (SUDOC, 2022). M.Sc. Dang The Hien is a seasoned architect, urban planner, and urban designer with a rich background in both professional practice and academia. He has worked at the Southern Institute for Spatial Planning and the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Architecture Urban Planning. After more than eight years as a lecturer and the international coordinator for the faculty at Ton Duc Thang University, he is now contributing his expertise at ISCM. His interests lie in sustainable urban development, enhancing urban livability, addressing urban informalities, and advancing urban design and landscaping, all driven by a commitment to creating more resilient and inclusive urban environments. He is also the manager of the smART Hub Living Lab, a pilot living lab project at UEH's Vo Thi Sau campus. The project serves as a vibrant socio-technical nexus where technology and artistic expression converge to drive smart innovation, with the goal of advancing towards a net zero future.Dr. Le Thi Hanh An currently serves as Deputy Head of Communications and Partnerships, Deputy Head of the UEH Co-creation & Innovation Laboratory, and Manager of the UEH Green Campus Project at the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH). She earned her Ph.D. in Transportation Sciences from Hasselt University (Belgium), with an interdisciplinary research focus on city branding and transportation issues within the context of sustainable development. In her role of planning and implementing sustainability strategies at UEH, Dr. Le Thi Hanh An contributes significantly to advancing the green transformation of higher education institutions, particularly through the UEH Green Campus Project. Beyond leading initiatives related to sustainable campus operations, she actively engages in research, publishes scientific studies, and authors scholarly books on sustainable university development. Through these contributions, she helps disseminate knowledge and inspire communities on the journey toward a more sustainable future.Sandhya Rao is an urban designer and sustainability practitioner with over 15 years of experience spanning professional practice, academia, and collaborative research. Her work centers on climate resilience, digital innovation, and net zero urban transitions, with a particular focus on heritage-sensitive urban regeneration and sustainable precinct development. Through her independent practice and collaborations, she co-founded Citylab BLR, leading participatory city-making projects includin Assoc. Prof. Tu Anh Trinh, PhD. is a senior lecturer and the Director of the Institute of Smart City and Management at the College of Technology and Design, UEH. In 2025, she becomes an associate professor, reflecting her significant contributions to the field. Her expertise is further demonstrated through her leadership in transdisciplinary research, combining the fields of sustainability, smart cities, urban and transportation planning, road safety, air transport economics. Assoc. Prof. Trinh's academic excellence is underscored by her extensive publication record in prestigious journals and conference proceedings, marking her as a prominent contributor to her field. Her academic influence extends internationally, as she frequently acts as a guest lecturer, supervisor, and reviewer for master's and Ph.D. candidates at esteemed institutions such as the University of Trieste, Hasselt University, Thammasat University, and Handong Global University. Assoc. Prof. Trinh is a key figure in the organization of international conferences, serving as co-chair for notable events including the International Conference on Sustainable Development in Civil, Urban, and Transportation Engineering (CUTE-2016, 2018), the Aviation Future: Challenges and Solutions (AFCS, 2020), the Resilience by Technology and Design (RTD-2022, 2024, 2026), and the Sustainable University Development: Opportunities and Challenges (SUDOC, 2022).