Many European countries, particularly in Northern Europe, have conducted integrated studies on Sustainable
Development in Higher Education. In Portugal, no attempt has been made to evaluate in detail how Public
Higher Education Institutions (HEI) are incorporating Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) at policy
and strategy level and how it was implemented within Ministry of Education and Science. This study aimed
to determine how sustainability was integrated into policies and strategies of 14 HEI in Portugal within the
framework and goals of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD) 2005-
2014. Based on grounded theory strategy, multi case studies and documental content analysis a deductive
approach was undertaken. Pre-selected key terms based on literature search were used for the content analysis.
Documentary research on polices, plans and programs from the Governmental Great Planning Options as
Governmental Constitutional Plans and the Portuguese Ministry of Education and Science was performed
through the analysis of the possible forms of implementation of DESD, and their consequent impacts on
strategies of the public Institutions taking part of the Portuguese Council of Rectors. Given that 2014 was the
final year of DESD 2005-2014 and 2005 was the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) assessment year,
the approach of sustainability in public policies and strategies in the Portuguese HEI is on schedule.
Notwithstanding some international drivers and a few practical examples at University level, preliminary
results showed that ESD is still in its early stages of development and that there is a lack of national integrated
strategies or policies. There is an absolute need for a change in the paradigm of Portuguese HEI and several
barriers to overcome, both through learning and application of best practices from other European and
worldwide countries.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
