Editorial: Special Issue New challenges in governance, sustainability and accountability of universities

Abstract

This special issue invited research addressing the governance, sustainability, and accountability challenges of universities globally, particularly in balancing financial performance with the integration of intellectual, environmental, and social capital, while maintaining their public value for society and future generations. Five studies conducted in Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil are included in this issue. With reference to public value and institutional theories, these studies highlight the influence of coercive, normative, and resource-dependent pressures on the adoption of disclosure strategies by universities, emphasising the need to integrate reporting on environmental and social capitals (including female capital) with financial public value disclosures for universities. Additional regional observations include challenges facing universities in Australia, the United Kingdom (UK) and South Africa, a developing economy. Concerns associated with dwindling government support, lower levels of international students and high levels of student debt are causing financial stress for universities, resulting in faculty job losses and closure of essential knowledge fields. The result is an overemphasis on financial capital in performance indicators and strategic decision-making, with limited or no concern for intellectual, environmental and social capital. Instead, leaders of public universities are reminded that the governance of universities and their accountability should be for the benefit of society and the environment, and that the public value of universities includes the sustainability of the universities for future generations.