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A‐broad spectrum: sustainability in educational travel

Brack W. Hale (Department of Math and Natural Sciences, Franklin College Switzerland, Sorengo, Switzerland)
Alison Vogelaar (Department of Communication and Media Studies, Franklin College Switzerland, Sorengo, Switzerland)
Joshua Long (Department of Math and Natural Sciences, Franklin College Switzerland, Sorengo, Switzerland)

International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education

ISSN: 1467-6370

Article publication date: 13 September 2013

1227

Abstract

Purpose

This study seeks to assess the role that sustainability concerns currently play in educational travel within higher education. Although sustainability issues and initiatives have become popular on campuses across the globe, little has been written specifically about efforts within higher educational travel programs.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper conducted an online survey of practitioners in the field of higher education travel about attempts, if any, to incorporate themes of sustainability and sustainable travel into travel programs at the institutions.

Findings

In general, the paper found that sustainability‐related themes and concerns have yet to develop to the level of campus sustainability. The paper also found three additional themes: a disparity between sustainability in discourse and practice; sustainable measures that focus on local organizations/relationships and external programs; and the financial, marketing and relational offsets associated with the implementation of sustainability.

Originality/value

The paper could find no other similar study; thus the paper represents a first glimpse into current efforts to incorporate and address sustainability concerns in higher education travel programs.

Keywords

Citation

Hale, B.W., Vogelaar, A. and Long, J. (2013), "A‐broad spectrum: sustainability in educational travel", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 14 No. 4, pp. 349-366. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-07-2011-0049

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2013, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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