Universities’ journey towards sustainability- systematic literature review
International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education
ISSN: 1467-6370
Article publication date: 25 October 2023
Issue publication date: 19 February 2024
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to identify a sustainable university’s key features. It is an essential step in tracing the topics discussed in the context of a sustainable university and their evolution in the scientific discourse.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper relies on a systematic literature review (SLR) conducted using two scholarly databases: Emerald and Scopus. The timeframe selected by the authors for reviewing the available sources spans from 2001 to 2021.
Findings
The analysis distinguished seven sustainable university categories, each revealing critical features of sustainable higher education. Each of these categories represents an intriguing area for in-depth analysis. The SLR reveals gaps requiring further scientific exploration.
Research limitations/implications
The performed literature review was determined by the choice of entries (keywords) to identify the scientific papers in the selected databases. Moreover, as the authors aimed to focus on peer-reviewed sources, this SLR did not include books and doctoral dissertations dealing with the studied issues.
Practical implications
The results of the analysis can be used practically by both researchers and practitioners in the field of sustainable development (SD). Identified scientific gaps become a potential research field, and practitioners interested in the transition toward SD may contribute by accompanying universities in this journey. Collaboration and networking with business stakeholders are critical vectors for spreading the idea of SD.
Social implications
Society’s growing concern for climate change requires accurate and specific actions from institutions. As entities educating future generations, universities have a unique role in transforming toward SD. The findings allow us to get acquainted with the existing main activities undertaken by higher education institutions in this field and understand the importance of this topic for researchers.
Originality/value
SLR is a cornerstone of research synthesis and helps integrate scientific evidence from qualitative and quantitative published studies. Conducted research presents knowledge about university sustainability and can help scientists find research gaps.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The article presents the result of the Project no 037/GAZ/2023/POT financed from the subsidy granted to the Krakow University of Economics.
Citation
Popowska, M.M. and Sady, M. (2024), "Universities’ journey towards sustainability- systematic literature review", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 25 No. 3, pp. 596-615. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-08-2022-0280
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited