NORTH MIAMI—To what degree are our academic institutions teaching sustainability in the classroom? If there is one person who knows the answer to this question, it is Nancy Scanlon. She is a professor at the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Florida International University (FIU), an author of numerous books and articles, and a leader in the application and research of sustainable operating practices and climate change adaptation for the hospitality industry. Nancy is also chair of the environmental hospitality special interest group for ICHRIE (International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education). Green Lodging News recently spoke with Nancy about her role with ICHRIE and her views on the state of sustainability in hospitality education.
Nancy has been leading ICHRIE’s special interest group for about 10 years. The group, which has about 25 members, meets formally once each year and informally throughout the remainder of the year. Nancy says she founded the group because she saw a need for a venue for educators to discuss how to weave sustainability into hospitality curriculum and research.
Industry trends are driving the need for more coursework that focuses on sustainability, Nancy says.
“Our industry in the last five years has understood the need for sustainability programs in their operations,” she says. “Individual properties now have the mandate to have green programs but they cannot afford to allocate resources for one individual to focus on them. It will eventually happen.
“Within the next five to 10 years all commercial buildings will have to measure their carbon footprint,” Nancy adds.
Importance of Being Properly Prepared
Nancy says academic institutions need to prepare students with the skills to lead green teams and put green practices into operation, even if that is not their entire focus once they are employed.
“If graduates can come to the table with that knowledge, they can be so much more competitive,” she says. “What industry is trying to do is help educators understand the importance of giving students this toolbox of understanding.”
Nancy and about 150 (FIU) students are currently working on a project that encompasses 36 greater Miami Beach hotels. Property managers are being asked questions about practices in energy management, water conservation, and waste management. Students are getting on-property experience as they survey hotel managers.
When asked if hotel schools are keeping up with the green practices and trends taking place in the industry, Nancy said, “They could move a little faster.”
Part of the responsibility for pushing sustainability in education lies with the industry, she says.
“When the industry demand is there, then education will reflect the demand,” Nancy says. “When recruiters come to say they need students to have these skills, schools will move faster.”
Case Needs to Be Made for Change
As with any business, academic institutions will not invest in change unless there is a strong case made for that change.
“When you are asking for changes in curriculum and the allocation of resources, you need to have some quantifiable justification,” Nancy says.
She adds that those universities committed to sustainability on a university-wide level have an easier time incorporating that type of teaching into their hospitality programs.
“At FIU, there is a tremendous push on a university-wide basis,” she says.
When asked if there are currently enough text books available that include information on sustainable hotel practices, Nancy said there is.
“There is also an increasing amount of research that is available in the form of white papers,” she says.
ITP, AH&LA Responsibilities
In addition to teaching at FIU and chairing the ICHRIE group, Nancy is on the advisory panel for the International Tourism Partnership (ITP), and is vice-chair of the Engineering and Environmental Committee of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA).
Nancy encourages those interested in learning more about sustainability in hospitality education to attend this summer’s annual ICHRIE conference in Providence, Rhode Island. The August 1 to 4 event will feature a keynote presentation by Faith Taylor, vice president of sustainability and innovation for Wyndham Worldwide, and a session on the state of sustainability education in hospitality curriculum.
Click here for more information on Nancy.
Glenn Hasek can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
