Developing a method for incorporating sustainability into the strategic planning of higher education institutions

Abstract

Purpose

Higher education institutions (HEIs) must take on a leadership role in building a sustainable world, given their responsibility for preparing future professionals and leaders worldwide and considering the role they provide to society. To accomplish this goal, HEIs need to holistically embody sustainability in everything they develop. This study aims to help HEIs in this purpose by developing a method to integrate sustainability into the strategic planning process in these institutions.

Design/methodology/approach

In the first stage, the method was developed based on papers selected through a systematic literature review. The proposed method was then applied in a Brazilian HEI to validate and adjust it.

Findings

A method that adopts a participatory process to integrate sustainability into HEIs’ strategic planning was proposed.

Practical implications

This study provides university leaders with a simple and practical method to aid with elaborating on strategic plans for holistic sustainability integration.

Originality/value

This study uniquely applied a framework called “HEIs sustainability action archetypes” as the foundation for selecting sustainable objectives, goals and actions to be integrated into these institutions’ strategic planning.

Citation

Sanches, F.E.F., Souza Junior, M.A.A.d., Massaro Junior, F.R., Povedano, R. and Gaio, L.E. (2023), "Developing a method for incorporating sustainability into the strategic planning of higher education institutions", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 24 No. 4, pp. 812-839. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-10-2021-0439