FORMING THE FRAMEWORK FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUTING TO HIGHER EDUCATION: THE CASE OF THE TECHNOLOGICAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION OF THESSALY, GREECE

摘要

Since the late 20th century, academic institutions have conducted extensive research towards the promotion of sustainable mobility in cities and urban areas. However, a lack of an organised framework of policies and measures can be observed when looking at attempts to strengthen sustainability in the transport system of academic campuses, apart from limited cases of institutions implementing travel plans regularly. In this paper, a methodology is proposed for the development of an appropriate framework in order to improve the accessibility and sustainability of the daily transport activities to/from the campus and to upgrade the interaction between the campus and the urban network. The methodology is based on international experience taking into account necessary adjustments to local conditions. Its added value derives from the ability to be implemented by institutions with limited experience in travel plans and the prospect of enhancing the students' experience in the process. The methodology was tested through a case study at the Technological Educational Institution of Thessaly, Greece. The findings of the study suggest there is a limited awareness of sustainability issues in the travel culture mainly among staff members, while it proposes a comprehensive framework of short and long-term solutions.