ENVIRONMENTAL INNOVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE IN THE UK HIGHER EDUCATION SECTOR: THE MODERATING ROLE OF SOCIAL CAPITAL

Higher Education (HE) is a prominent factor in any economy in the world, specifically if the education sector contributes to the economic development of any country. The UK HE sector has grown after World War Two, and the university competition has been boosted. In this competitive world, the importance of Environmental Innovation (EI) is considered a fascinating factor for any industry or sector, which has not only improved the opportunities but also enhanced the quality of life and environmental health and safety. Moreover, another factor that has boomed in environmental improvement is Social Capital (SC). It offers facilities that can enhance organisational capabilities to deal with modern challenges. This research presents the study of the novel combination of Environmental Performances (EP), Environmental Innovation (EI), and Social Capital (SC) variables. This study has focused on the association between these variables, considering the challenges and risks of the UK HE environment. The empirical research of EP has been conducted with different combinations of EI and SC. The research has revealed the significant association between EP and EI and the impact on the UK's HE environment. Also, the study proved that SC has a significant impact on EP within the UK HE sector. Moreover, the results unveiled that the SC has a significant positive impact on the association of EP and EI in the UK HE settings. This study analysed the data using statistical methods, i.e., Descriptive analysis, Correlation Matrix, and Multivariate Regression Model.