Achieving Sustainable Transportation at EMU Campus

ABSTRACT: In the twenty-first century, the issue of need and implementation of sustainability has become a serious topic of discussion between scholars and theorists in different communities. In this regard, the higher education institutions are one of the key social communities around world. A kind of institutions of higher education are university campuses which the basic responsibility of them is to foster their students for life by increasing their awareness, skills, information and values needed to make future. Furthermore, education is humanity’s finest expectancy and most effective means in the search to reach sustainable development. From this perspective, university campuses have ability to contribute and create awareness of sustainability which can be combined into everyday life of their communities as well as can be the ideal location and the best starting point to test out the concepts of sustainability. In the recent years, according to the rapid uncontrolled growth in population, urbanization, spatial expansion and motorization, the main challenge around world is the issue of transportation which play crucial role in sustainable development by its substantial impacts on economics, environment and the community. Hence, transportation sector is an important element in sustainability. Consequently, sustainable transportation idea is appeared from the sustainable development concept in the transportation sector. Based on initial discussion, this research reviews the sustainability within university campuses by concentrating on sustainability in transportation sector. In this regard, this study will help to understand the definitions, aims, needs and elements of sustainability as well as definitions, aims, needs, indicators, impacts and kinds of sustainable transportation in university campuses. In continuous, all dimension of transportation sector at Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) campus in Famagusta, North Cyprus as case study and problem area will be examined toward achieving the main aim of this research which is to set up a guideline to have a sustainable transportation system and a pedestrian friendly environment in EMU campus, with the intention of improving the quality of the campus environment. This study is aimed to be a case study research and action research. The methodology for data collection in this study is based on qualitative and quantitative techniques. For data evaluations, the statistic results and qualitative analysis used to clarify the existing situation and problems of transportation sector at EMU Campus environment. In the end, due to all results, a guideline will be provided for achieving sustainable transportation at Eastern Mediterranean University Campus which is the main aim of this study. Keywords: Sustainable Development, University Campuses, Sustainable transportation, Eastern Mediterranean University. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………