Social Responsibility Improving Sustainable Practices UTP Through Action

Abstract

Technological and scientific advances have brought both positive and negative benefits to humanity, including environmental degradation, in some cases violating human rights, wealth concentration, and increased poverty. This has collectively resulted in a decline in human awareness regarding environmental care and responsibility, as well as a shift towards sustainability. In response, the United Nations (UN) created the 2030 Agenda with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Governments aware of the problem have reached agreements and signed alliances to address it, including the Mexican government, which is continuing the National Development Plan 2019-2030. This plan incorporates diverse strategies to address social, economic, and environmental aspects through public policies that regulate behavior. The role of Higher Education Institutions is particularly noteworthy, as they have the responsibility to train professionals with a focus on sustainability. Education is considered an agent of change that influences individual behavior, fostering a vision for a better quality of life. (Munch, 2018), as is the case of the Technological University of Puebla (UTP). The objective of this research is to verify the operation of educational policy through strategies implemented by senior management to address the Sustainable Development Goals within the UTP university community. The action research method was applied in this research, and a mixed-methods approach was used for data and information analysis, along with observation. Actions were documented, and reports of the results of actions implemented in the last three years were reviewed. The results from a sample of 390 interviewees from various UTP programs indicate that 30% of the university community takes action in favor of the environment, carrying out awareness campaigns, dissemination, and outreach, and demonstrating commitment and social responsibility; On the contrary, 70% are unaware of the SDGs; most educational programs in 2023 did not consider topics related to sustainability; for most senior management, implementing actions in their divisions, departments, and areas to contribute to achieving the SDGs is not a priority on their work agenda, despite having ISO 14001 certification for environmental care. So far, no significant change has been observed on this issue. Greater commitment and leadership are needed from university authorities to support the actions carried out by the UTP student community, with small actions that gradually add up to big changes.