Presenting a Green Management Model for High Schools in Iran with a Sustainable Development Approach (Case Study: Schools of East Azarbaijan Province)

The purpose of this study is to present a conceptual model for green management with a sustainable development approach. The current research is developmental in terms of purpose, and this study was conducted based on the grounded theory methodology. The participants included 26 experts in the field of environment, experienced principals of secondary schools, sustainable development experts in the Department of Education of East Azerbaijan Province, and professors with knowledge in the field of green management from Azad University and Tabriz University. In order to achieve theoretical saturation in the semi-structured interview, the sample was selected purposefully and by snowball method. The validity of the data was confirmed with acceptability, transferability, verifiability, and reliability. Strauss and Corbin's three-stage coding process (open, central, selective) with MAXQDA software was applied to analyze data. The results of the research indicate that the causal factors affecting the green management of secondary schools include green futurism, the establishment of the environmental management system, and strategic developments. Functional isolation, limitations, professional health barriers, and lack of commitment are intervening factors. Sustainable transportation, use of clean technology, saving energy, and managing water consumption and waste are identified as actions. Total quality management implementation, social impacts, and performance improvement are extracted as outcome factors. Finally, the results of the selective coding showed that the main factors are teaching the protection of basic resources and the environment, the development of green technology, and sustainable culture to modify the consumption pattern.