Sustainable Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Initiatives in UK and Irish Universities and Colleges: Identifying and Overcoming the Barriers to Implementation

Energy is one of Ireland’s and the UK’s biggest commercial and environmental concerns. Despite government campaigns for everyone to play their part in minimising its consumption, reports suggest an estimated 20–30% of energy generated is wasted. Further and higher education institutions (FHEs) are no exception to this wastage using an extensive collection of ICT equipment and technology for teaching and research. Such technology is often left running when not in use creating energy waste, increasing running costs and carbon emissions. Conducted over the course of three consecutive stages, this research employed positivistic and anti-positivistic paradigms, utilised inductive, abductive and deductive methodologies and employed comparative, correlative and evaluative research methods that answer the research question and sub questions. This research showed that a gap in knowledge within the sector existed. That gap in knowledge – the identification of barriers to FHEs implementing sustainable ICT initiatives – is central to this research, as is how the gap was eventually bridged. Data were gathered throughout this research using surveys and questionnaires. Seven barriers to implementing ‘greener’ ICT initiatives were eventually identified with three of them (stakeholder engagement, lacking managers and cuts in funding) found to be widespread. Each of the barriers existed to various extents, in both countries and were experienced by a range of FHE managers with most underpinning one another. Finally, this research demonstrated that overcoming the barriers proved possible via the use of a smartphone web app named the ED web app. This simple to use and inexpensive ICT solution is easily replicated and engages with stakeholders in tackling energy waste in any organisation. These findings validated this research’s theory and ultimately answered the research question and its sub-questions.