How tertiary institutions ensure meaningful participation and engagement with stakeholders for sustainable water management

Lehulere, Kebone

How tertiary institutions ensure meaningful participation and engagement with stakeholders for sustainable water management

Thesis / Dissertation

2026

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Department of Construction Economics and Management

Faculty

Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine how stakeholder engagement influences sustainable water management in university institutions involving water users, staff, and students. A qualitative case study was employed, grounded in the premise that effective stakeholder engagement, when implemented correctly, can serve as a catalyst for sustainable water management initiatives within the university setting. The University of Cape Town (UCT) was chosen as the research case. Data was collected from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data included interviews and observations, while secondary data was obtained through relevant policies, strategies and frameworks for sustainable water management engagements at the university. The thematic analysis revealed themes that identified factors that facilitate or hinder effective stakeholder engagement for sustainable water management at the UCT. Contributing factors for successful stakeholder engagement included social and cultural attitudes towards sustainability and integrating sustainable learning into the university's operations, teaching and learning. Conversely, factors that impede effective stakeholder engagements for sustainable water management include institutional, structural, as well as social and behavioural factors such as low student interest in sustainability matters, top-down governance and outdated bureaucratic processes, lack of behavioural change, inflated project costs, and lack of student engagement. The findings from this study revealed that stakeholder engagement approaches that can adapt to changes and consider the social and cultural influences of their context are most likely to succeed in sustainable water management initiatives. The findings of this study may be useful for facilitators of stakeholder engagements for sustainable water management at universities, helping to improve the success of sustainable practices and achieve sustainability goals.

Keywords

stakeholder engagement

water management

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Masters

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