From Policy to Practice: Green Human Resource Implementation and Stakeholder Collaboration for Effective Environmental Sustainability within University Settings. A Comparative Case Study at Queen's University Belfast, United Kingdom, and King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Environmental sustainability has emerged as a top global priority, and higher education institutions play a critical role in advancing this agenda through research, education and operational leadership. However, universities often struggle to achieve effective sustainability outcomes because of complex, context-dependent factors. This thesis contends that the effectiveness of university environmental sustainability is determined by the integrated interplay of three core dimensions: government policy, (GHRM) and stakeholder engagement. This comparative case study employs an interpretivist qualitative methodology to investigate how these dimensions interact in two distinct institutional contexts: (QUB) within Northern Ireland's devolved governance framework and (KAU) within Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030-aligned centralised system. The research, conducted through semi-structured interviews with 56 key stakeholders, including senior management, HR professionals, faculty, and student representatives, and triangulated with institutional policy documents, shows that effectiveness hinges on the dynamic interaction between policy frameworks, GHRM strategies and authentic stakeholder engagement. The findings demonstrate that QUB operates through decentralised, community-driven sustainability practices characterised by grassroots activism and participatory stakeholder engagement; however, it faces challenges such as fragmented initiatives, financial constraints and resistance to systemic change. KAU's approach, on the other hand, is shaped by centralised government support and strong regulatory mandates which align with Saudi Vision 2030, resulting in rapid but compliance-driven implementation. Both institutions face similar challenges, including a lack of environmental awareness, insufficient binding legislation, cultural resistance, financial limitations and difficulties in implementing sustainable practices across departments. The study's theoretical contributions include a Context-Adaptive Environmental Sustainability Implementation Model, Culturally Integrative Institutional Theory and the Cultural-Institutional Sustainability Model, which broaden understanding beyond Western-centric frameworks. Practically, it makes evidence-based recommendations for promoting integrated sustainability governance, culturally sensitive GHRM practices and increased stakeholder participation.