The Stakeholders' Analysis and Evaluation of Their Impact on the Sustainability and Environmental Management System in Iraqi Universities

This research explores the influence of internal and external stakeholders in the formation of the Environmental Management System (EMS) in the context of the Iraqi Higher Education Institutions (HEI) using the model of the University of Kufa. The study, which is based on a structured stakeholder analysis, acknowledges the importance of EMS in fostering sustainability across environmental, economic, and social dimensions. Stakeholders were evaluated in terms of power, interest, and emotional or economic involvement and then grouped according to the level of their affective and cognitive involvement. The findings indicate that governing bodies and regulatory bodies have significant positive impacts, along with the active roles of institutions, operational contractors, and services; however, students play a rather passive or under-engaged role despite their major environmental impact. The results suggest the need to develop effective campaign strategies that encourage engagement among financial and emotional stakeholders. The research presents practical strategies to develop sustainability programs in universities, as it tackles systemic issues relating to resource constraints, poor knowledge, and fragmented policy within developing regions. The model suggests using a stakeholder approach as a guide for successfully creating and implementing Environmental Management Systems (EMSs) to make sure that local needs match national waste goals and international sustainability standards.