Assessing the sustainability of higher education institutions

Abstract

Researchers have become increasingly interested in assessing the sustainability performance of higher education institutions (HEIs) over the past decade, driven by environmental challenges, social disparities, and economic instabilities worldwide. HEIs are regarded as mini-cities; hence, having a sustainable university campus will have a resultant effect on the cities and the immediate societies in which they operate. Therefore, developing and prioritizing a set of performance indicators for the sustainability assessment of HEIs becomes imperative. This study aimed to develop weighted indicators and prioritize their relative levels of importance for the sustainability assessment of HEIs in Nigeria using a Delphi study. A mixed-methodology approach was employed, involving desk research and a Delphi study. The desk research involved the utilization of sustainability indicators that were consistently and frequently cited in the extant literature pertinent to HEIs and adapted to the Nigerian context. The results revealed that commercialized research outputs, renewable energy, campus fleet, and sustainability awareness were the four most important indicators, as they were highly prioritized. HEIs in Nigeria are at a nascent phase of sustainability advancement, and the identified contextual key performance indicators (KPIs) are intended to bolster local sustainability initiatives. A comprehension of the existing phases of sustainable development (SD) and the strategic application of KPIs would enable HEIs to optimize their contributions to sustainability practices, especially in the context of early adopters like those in Nigeria.