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CHANGE MANAGEMENT AS A TOOL FOR CAPACITY BUILDING IN SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: A HIGHER EDUCATION PERSPECTIVE

Petra Skorepova

Abstract

This paper examines change management as a tool for capacity building in sustainable environmental management from the perspective of higher education institutions. Universities play a crucial role in preparing future professionals, generating knowledge, and supporting sustainable transformation. However, the implementation of sustainability-oriented changes often faces barriers such as limited resources, insufficient stakeholder engagement, weak communication, resistance to change, and inadequate institutional anchoring. Based on a narrative literature review and conceptual synthesis, the paper links change management, capacity building, sustainable environmental management, and higher education management. The aim is to propose a conceptual framework that highlights five key dimensions: strategic leadership, stakeholder engagement, competency development, project-based implementation, and process-oriented institutionalization. The paper argues that sustainable environmental management requires not only individual competencies, but also systematic organizational change and long-term institutional adaptability. The proposed framework provides theoretical and practical implications for universities seeking to strengthen their capacity for sustainability-oriented transformation.

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