Governança ambiental e sustentabilidade como valor – um estudo de caso em uma universidade pública

Abstract

This study analyzes how environmental governance at the Universidade Federal de Uberlândia relates to sustainability as an organizational value, as well as identifies which organizational values are recognized by Técnicos Administrativos em Educação. The study is based on the understanding that institutional sustainability is not limited to the existence of formal guidelines, policies, or regulations, but depends on its presence in organizational practices and in the perception of institutional members. This is an applied research study with a mixedmethods and descriptive approach, combining documentary analysis of institutional regulations and environmental policies with the application of questionnaires to staff members. The results showed that the university has relevant institutional foundations for promoting sustainability, indicating a formal commitment to the theme through institutional policies, programs, and actions. An alignment was observed between the organizational values perceived by staff and those traditionally associated with the university mission, such as social commitment, quality of education, and public responsibility, but a lower recognition of environmentally desirable values in everyday organizational practices. The results indicate that, although there is an institutional environmental governance structure and sustainability is formally present in institutional documents and policies, it still does not occupy a central position among the organizational values perceived by staff, revealing a gap between formal sustainability and sustainability perceived in everyday institutional practices. The study contributes to the understanding of environmental governance in public higher education institutions by demonstrating that the formal institutionalization of sustainability does not guarantee its centrality as an organizational value, making communication, training, and institutional engagement actions necessary to bring declared values closer to organizational practices.