Analysis of ESG importance and current level of educational needs of university faculty

Abstract

This study aims to derive strategies for realizing the social values of universities in the reality of the times where the need for ESG (Environment (E), Society (S), and Governance (G))  is being raised in the field of university education beyond companies. To this end, the awareness level of university faculty and staff on ESG is analyzed in terms of importance and current level, and the degree of demand for ESG practice necessary for university faculty is to be identified. This needs analysis can introduce ESG into university management and form a strong relationship between stakeholders. This study was conducted as an online survey, and data were collected from professors and staff of a 4-year university E in Gyeonggi-do. The collected data were analyzed using IBM SPSS 23.0 statistical program and MS Office Excel. As analysis procedures, frequency analysis, reliability analysis, paired-sample t-test, Borich analysis, and the Locus for Focus model were applied. The results of this study revealed that there was a statistically significant difference between the importance and the current level in all three ESG areas, and the importance was higher than the current level. Also, among the three ESG areas, the environmental and governance areas were the priorities of educational demand for ESG awareness among university faculty. The priority of educational needs based on sub-factors by area is as follows. First, energy-saving education for faculty members should be strengthened in the environmental field. Second, universities need to make efforts to improve the environment. In the area of governance, it is necessary to first operate programs for the welfare of faculty members.  Second, efforts are needed to provide non-discriminatory treatment and equal rights among faculty members. Third, a fair and transparent faculty and staff performance evaluation should be conducted. As such, a management strategy to improve ESG awareness for university faculty should be introduced, focusing on two environmental factors and three governance factors.