ABSTRACT

A favoured concept within much ecologically oriented thought is that of sustainability but it must be put to one side. The ecological university is not concerned with sustaining life or systems or institutions or persons or technologies or cultures or learning or knowledge or even the natural environment, but is rather concerned with advancing or strengthening or positively developing life in all of its forms. The ecological university is not even concerned with change, but is concerned to play its part in change so as to bring about ever-enhanced wellbeing in the world. This chapter summarizes the differences between the ideas of sustainability, autopoiesis and ecology. Openness, an expansion of horizons, boundary crossing and a world community: these are four sets of ideas to help form principles to enable the ecological university to realize its potential in improving the world. They are, as it were, positive principles, strengthening and enhancing existent ecosystems of the university.