A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW ON THE KEY ELEMENTS OF SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS INITIATIVES IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21837/pm.v24i41.1995Keywords:
Higher Education Institutions, Initiatives, Key Elements, Sustainable CampusAbstract
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) play a crucial role in shaping intellectual development across social, economic, and environmental dimensions towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). HEIs have undertaken significant initiatives to incorporate sustainability into their operational practices, and the implementation of sustainable campuses has become an increasingly important area of focus. HEIs are responsible for promoting sustainability through their operational practices while also educating future generations. However, the absence of effective sustainable campus initiatives poses a significant challenge to the ongoing pursuit of SDGs in HEIs. There remains a clear absence of key elements required to fully realise the goals of sustainability within these institutions. Hence, this study aims to identify the key elements of sustainable campus initiatives in HEIs. The systematic review approach was adopted in this study, where relevant articles were retrieved from the Scopus and Web of Science databases for analysis. The systematic review examined 902 articles from Scopus and Web of Science databases within the timeframe from 2015 to 2025. Inclusion, exclusion, and quality criteria were applied to ensure that only high-quality and relevant articles were selected. Ultimately, 34 relevant papers were identified for inclusion in this systematic review approach. The analysis revealed six key elements essential for the successful implementation of sustainable campus initiatives, including governance and leadership, strategic planning, operation, curriculum development, research and development, and community engagement. These findings underscore the importance of all six elements in achieving the successful implementation of sustainable campuses in HEIs.
Downloads
References
Abad-Segura, E., & González-Zamar, M. (2021). Sustainable economic development in higher education institutions: A global analysis within the SDGs framework. Journal of Cleaner Production, 294, pp. 126133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126133
Abo-Khalil, A. G. (2024). Integrating sustainability into higher education challenges and opportunities for universities worldwide. Heliyon, 10(9), pp. e29946. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29946
Adams, R., Martin, S., & Boom, K. (2018). University culture and sustainability: Designing and implementing an enabling framework. Journal of Cleaner Production, 171, pp. 434–445. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.10.032
Aedi, N. (2024). Strategies and Best Practices for Implementing Green Campus: A Change Management Reviews. Journal of Ecohumanism, 3(4), pp. 2492–2502. https://doi.org/10.62754/joe.v3i4.3771
Alenezi, M. & Alanazi, F. (2024). Integrating environmental social and governance values into higher education curriculum. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education. 13(5), pp. 3493-3503. https://doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v13i5.29440
Amaral, A. R., Rodrigues, E., Gaspar, A. R., & Gomes, Á. (2020). A review of empirical data of sustainability initiatives in university campus operations. Journal of Cleaner Production, 250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119558
Badea, L, Șerban-Oprescu, G.L., Dedu, S., & Piroșcă, G.L. (2020). The Impact of Education for Sustainable Development on Romanian Economics and Business Students’ Behavior. Sustainability. 12(19) pp. 8169. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12198169
Bocken, N. M. P. & Short, S. W., (2021). Towards a sufficiency-driven business model: Experiences and opportunities. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 31, pp. 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2015.07.010
Cavicchi, C. & Vagnoni, E. (2018). Sustainability performance measurement inside academia. The case of a north Italian University. Journal of Accounting & Organizational Change, 14(2) pp. 138-166. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAOC-04-2016-0022
Dawodu, A., Dai, H., Zou, T., Zhou, H., Lian, W., Oladejo, J., & Osebor, F. (2022). Campus sustainability research: indicators and dimensions to consider for the design and assessment of a sustainable campus. Heliyon, 8(12). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11864
Din, M.F.M., Omar, W., Taib, S., Sarip, S., & Krishnan, S. (2021). Humanizing the Localizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Education and Research at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Journal of Sustainability Perspectives, 1, pp. 453-460. https://doi.org/10.14710/jsp.2021.12039
Duarte, M., Caeiro, S.S., Farinha, C.S., Moreira, A., Santos-Reis, M., Rigueiro, C., & Simão, J. (2023). Integration of sustainability in the curricula of public higher education institutions in Portugal: do strategic plans and self-report align? International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 24(9) pp. 299-317. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE01-2023-0001
Efendi, D., Swarga, A.B., Mudzakkir, M., Bustami, M.R. & Nasruddin, E. (2023). A crosscultural analysis on the practice of sustainable university initiatives. Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development, 6(2), pp. 413-425. https://doi.org/10.7454/jessd.v6i2.1192
Filho, W. L., Amaro, N., Avila, L. V., Brandli, L., Damke, L. I., Vasconcelos, C. R. P., Hernandez-Diaz, P. M., Frankenberger, F., Fritzen, B., Velazquez, L., & Salvia, A. (2021). Mapping sustainability initiatives in higher education institutions in Latin America. Journal of Cleaner Production, 315, pp. 128093. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.128093
Filho, W.L., Vargas, V.R., Salvia, A.L., Brandli, L.L., Pallant, E., Klavins, M., Ray, S., Moggi, S., Maruna, M., Conticelli, E., Ayanore, M.A., Radovic, V., Gupta, B., Sen, S., Paço, A., Michalopoulou, E., Saikim, F.H., Koh, H.L., Frankenberger, F., Vaccari, M. (2019). The role of higher education institutions in sustainability initiatives at the local level. Journal of Cleaner Production, 233, pp. 1004–1015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.06.059
Fokdal, J., Čolić, R. Rodić, D.M. (2020). Integrating sustainability in higher planning education through international cooperation: Assessment of a pedagogical model and learning outcomes from the students’ perspective. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 21(1), pp. 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-01-2019-0045
Goni, F., Chofreh, A., Mukhtar, M., Sahran, S., Shukor, S., & Klemeš, J. (2017). Strategic alignment between sustainability and information systems: A case analysis in Malaysian public Higher Education Institutions. Journal of Cleaner Production, 168, pp. 263-270. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JCLEPRO.2017.09.021
Groulx, M., Nowak, N., Levy, K. & Booth, A. (2021). Community needs and interests in university–community partnerships for sustainable development. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 22(2) pp. 274-290. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-03-2020-0086
Hopkins, K.K., Barth, M.,C. Michelsen, G., Dlouh, J., Razak, D. A., Abidin, Z., Sanusi, B., Toman, I. & Razak, A. (2022). A whole-institution approach towards sustainability: a crucial aspect of higher education’s individual and collective engagement with the SDGs and beyond. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 23(2) pp. 1467–6370. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-10-2020-0398
Imaduddin, M. & Eilks, I (2024). A scoping review and bibliometric analysis of educational research on water literacy and water education. Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy. Volume 42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scp.2024.101833
Lee, S., & Lee, S. (2021). Can universities be a platform for climate mitigation? Exploring the impacts of carbon pricing in the university setting. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 28(8) pp. 759–770. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504509.2021.1902877
Reisch, O.C., Lima, J., Soares, T.C., Tutida, A.Y., Mazon, G., Andrade de Lima, M., Montenegro de Lima, C.R., Dutra, A.R.A. & Guerra, J.B.S.Osório de Andrade (2023). Implementing and performing sustainability strategies at campus operations: the case of Instituto Federal de Santa Catarina. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 26(5) pp. 987-1007. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijshe-08-2021-0332
Lozano, R., Ceulemans, K., Alonso-Almeida, M., Huisingh, D., Lozano, F. J., Waas, T., Lambrechts, W., Lukman, R., & Hugé, J. (2015). A review of commitment and implementation of sustainable development in higher education: Results from a worldwide survey. Journal of Cleaner Production, 108(Part A) pp. 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.09.048
Mahanayak. B. (2024). Meaning and concept of sustainable development for the protection of environment and the role of India. World Journal Of Advanced Research and Reviews. 22(03) pp. 1460–1465 https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2024.22.3.1856
Menon, S., Suresh, M. (2022). Modelling the enablers of sustainability in higher education institutions. Journal of Modelling in Management, 17, pp. 405–439
Merino, A. G. P. (2022). Sustainable food, consensus, and debates: a study on university campuses in Mexico City. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 23(8) pp. 337-353. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-03-2022-0096
Mohamed, N.H., Noor, Z.Z., Sing, C.L.I. (2019). Environmental sustainability of universities: Critical review of best initiatives and operational practices. Green Engineering for Campus Sustainability. Springer Singapore, pp. 6–17. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-7260-5_2
Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., & Altman, D. G. (2009). Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: The PRISMA statement. PLoS Medicine, 6(7), e1000097. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000097
Moggi, S. (2023). Sustainability reporting, universities and global reporting initiative applicability: a still open issue. Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal, 14(4) pp. 699-742. https://doi.org/10.1108/SAMPJ-05-2022-0257
Pedersen, K. W., Pharo, E., Peterson, C., & Clark, G. A. (2017). Wheels of change in higher education. A collaborative, multi-stakeholder project as a vehicle for sustainability education. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 18(2) pp. 171-184. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-10-2015-0172
Rad, M., & Sonesson, U. (2024). Drivers of a more sustainable future food system – Lessons from Sweden. Journal of Cleaner Production, 462, 142639. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.142639
Ribeiro, J.M.P., Hoeckesfeld, L., Magro, C.B.D., Favretto, J., Barichello, R., Lenzi, F.C., Secchi, L., Montenegro de Lima, C.R. Guerra, J.B.S.O.A (2021). Green Campus Initiatives as sustainable development dissemination at higher education institutions: Students’ perceptions. Journal of Cleaner Production. 312, 127671, https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JCLEPRO.2021.127671
Shafi, R.M., Tarmudi, Z., Ismail, N. & Zain, S.R.S.M. (2023). Modelling Fuzzy Analytical Network Process for Sustainability Criteria of Malaysia Higher Education Institutions. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 10(6.2), 187–203. https://doi.org/10.14738/assrj.106.2.15003
Shakir, H., & Salem, F. (2024). Energy management enhancement of a smart home supplied by renewable energy system. Indonesian Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 35(1) pp. 20-31. http://doi.org/10.11591/ijeecs.v35.i1.pp20-31
Shrestha, P. (2024). Sustainability initiatives in higher education institutions: the stakeholder perspectives. Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education. 17 (4) pp. 1394–1410. https://doi.org/10.1108/JARHE-03-2024-0141
Syam, F.H., Wisdianti, D., Sajar. S. & Bahri, S. (2023). Study of Sustainable Architecture Concepts. International Journal of Research and Review. 10(4) pp. 419-424. https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20230450
Thomashow, R.C. (2014). Mitchell Thomashow: “The nine elements of a sustainable campus”. Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences. pp. 248. https://doi.org/10.1007/S13412-0150282-4
Vlachopoulos, D. & Makri, A. (2024). A systematic literature review on authentic assessment in higher education: Best practices for the development of 21st century skills, and policy considerations. Studies in Educational Evaluation, Volume 83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stueduc.2024.101425
Zen, I. S., Subramaniam, D., Sulaiman, H., Saleh, A. L., Omar, W., & Salim, M. R. (2016). Institutionalize waste minimization governance towards campus sustainability: A case study of Green Office initiatives in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Journal of Cleaner Production, 135, pp. 1407–1422. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.07.053
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 Unported License.
Copyright & Creative Commons Licence
eISSN: 0128-0945 © Year. The Authors. Published for Malaysian Institute of Planners. This is an open-access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license.
The authors hold the copyright without restrictions and also retain publishing rights without restrictions.
