Ensuring Sustainability: Leadership Approach Model for Tackling Procurement Challenges in Bulgarian Higher Education Institutions

At present, higher education institutions (HEIs) are increasingly expected to incorporate sustainability into all aspects by integrating it not only into education and research but also into operational processes, including procurement. In some cases, national legislation hinders public universities...

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Main Authors: Mina Daskalova-Karakasheva, Denitza Zgureva-Filipova, Kalin Filipov, George Venkov
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-09-01
Series:Administrative Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/14/9/218
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author Mina Daskalova-Karakasheva
Denitza Zgureva-Filipova
Kalin Filipov
George Venkov
author_facet Mina Daskalova-Karakasheva
Denitza Zgureva-Filipova
Kalin Filipov
George Venkov
author_sort Mina Daskalova-Karakasheva
collection DOAJ
description At present, higher education institutions (HEIs) are increasingly expected to incorporate sustainability into all aspects by integrating it not only into education and research but also into operational processes, including procurement. In some cases, national legislation hinders public universities from adhering to sustainability requirements. This paper aims to introduce a leadership approach model that enables public universities to overcome the constraints imposed by the legal framework. To explore the relatively new area of Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP), where still little is known, the Technical University of Sofia (TU-Sofia) was chosen as a testbed for the case study. Firstly, the challenges posed by external factors—such as non-discrimination principles stated in Bulgaria’s Public Procurement Act (PPA) and internal incentives at TU-Sofia for sustainable procurement initiatives were identified. Secondly, based on the findings, the recommendation is to adopt a leadership approach model by developing and implementing a Sustainable Public Procurement Policy (SPPP) tailored to harness the university’s sustainable development drivers while complying with legislative requirements. As a result of the leadership approach model implementation, the university will not only enhance economic benefits but also mitigate risks and drive transformative change in procurement management processes, contributing to broader societal and environmental goals.
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spelling doaj-art-47cc7daec9b4418280e1ac0ab9c445412025-08-20T01:56:06ZengMDPI AGAdministrative Sciences2076-33872024-09-0114921810.3390/admsci14090218Ensuring Sustainability: Leadership Approach Model for Tackling Procurement Challenges in Bulgarian Higher Education InstitutionsMina Daskalova-Karakasheva0Denitza Zgureva-Filipova1Kalin Filipov2George Venkov3Faculty of Management, Technical University of Sofia, 1000 Sofia, BulgariaTechnical College of Sofia, Technical University of Sofia, 1000 Sofia, BulgariaFaculty of Power Engineering and Power Machines, Technical University of Sofia, 1000 Sofia, BulgariaFaculty of Applied Mathematics and Informatics, Technical University of Sofia, 1000 Sofia, BulgariaAt present, higher education institutions (HEIs) are increasingly expected to incorporate sustainability into all aspects by integrating it not only into education and research but also into operational processes, including procurement. In some cases, national legislation hinders public universities from adhering to sustainability requirements. This paper aims to introduce a leadership approach model that enables public universities to overcome the constraints imposed by the legal framework. To explore the relatively new area of Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP), where still little is known, the Technical University of Sofia (TU-Sofia) was chosen as a testbed for the case study. Firstly, the challenges posed by external factors—such as non-discrimination principles stated in Bulgaria’s Public Procurement Act (PPA) and internal incentives at TU-Sofia for sustainable procurement initiatives were identified. Secondly, based on the findings, the recommendation is to adopt a leadership approach model by developing and implementing a Sustainable Public Procurement Policy (SPPP) tailored to harness the university’s sustainable development drivers while complying with legislative requirements. As a result of the leadership approach model implementation, the university will not only enhance economic benefits but also mitigate risks and drive transformative change in procurement management processes, contributing to broader societal and environmental goals.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/14/9/218sustainable procurementhigher education institutionsleadership approach
spellingShingle Mina Daskalova-Karakasheva
Denitza Zgureva-Filipova
Kalin Filipov
George Venkov
Ensuring Sustainability: Leadership Approach Model for Tackling Procurement Challenges in Bulgarian Higher Education Institutions
Administrative Sciences
sustainable procurement
higher education institutions
leadership approach
title Ensuring Sustainability: Leadership Approach Model for Tackling Procurement Challenges in Bulgarian Higher Education Institutions
title_full Ensuring Sustainability: Leadership Approach Model for Tackling Procurement Challenges in Bulgarian Higher Education Institutions
title_fullStr Ensuring Sustainability: Leadership Approach Model for Tackling Procurement Challenges in Bulgarian Higher Education Institutions
title_full_unstemmed Ensuring Sustainability: Leadership Approach Model for Tackling Procurement Challenges in Bulgarian Higher Education Institutions
title_short Ensuring Sustainability: Leadership Approach Model for Tackling Procurement Challenges in Bulgarian Higher Education Institutions
title_sort ensuring sustainability leadership approach model for tackling procurement challenges in bulgarian higher education institutions
topic sustainable procurement
higher education institutions
leadership approach
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/14/9/218
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AT denitzazgurevafilipova ensuringsustainabilityleadershipapproachmodelfortacklingprocurementchallengesinbulgarianhighereducationinstitutions
AT kalinfilipov ensuringsustainabilityleadershipapproachmodelfortacklingprocurementchallengesinbulgarianhighereducationinstitutions
AT georgevenkov ensuringsustainabilityleadershipapproachmodelfortacklingprocurementchallengesinbulgarianhighereducationinstitutions