Sustainable university, an endeavor for survival and sustainability

The purpose of this study was to provide a framework for sustainable university, which was carried out with a qualitative research method. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with academic researchers, which were selected through purposive sampling. Using the qualitative content analysis technic, the most prominent theoretical and practical basis of the sustainable university were identified including, sustainable education, sustainable research, social engagement, university governance, university internationalization. In addition, the conceptual framework of a sustainable university and the needed process (monitoring, acting and evaluating) were depicted that could be leaded to the human survival and sustainable ecosystem. The proposed framework could open the way for new ideas about the future university in the "sustainability" paradigm.