Systematic exploration of sustainability in higher education: a tertiary perspective

Purpose: This study aims to systematically examine 69 secondary studies to understand trends and implications in sustainability in higher education (SHE), addressing gaps in secondary studies, which often lack comprehensive thematic overviews that hinder future directions. Design/methodology/approac...

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Main Authors: Aghajani, M., Memari, A., Tumpa, R.J., Ruge, Gesa
Format: Journal Article
Published: 2024
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/96047
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author Aghajani, M.
Memari, A.
Tumpa, R.J.
Ruge, Gesa
author_facet Aghajani, M.
Memari, A.
Tumpa, R.J.
Ruge, Gesa
author_sort Aghajani, M.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Purpose: This study aims to systematically examine 69 secondary studies to understand trends and implications in sustainability in higher education (SHE), addressing gaps in secondary studies, which often lack comprehensive thematic overviews that hinder future directions. Design/methodology/approach: This tertiary study uses meticulous thematic coding to unveil overarching themes and future research directions across seven SHE areas: institutional frameworks, campus operations, education, research, outreach and collaborations, campus experiences and assessment and reporting. Findings: The analysis reveals challenges higher education institutions (HEIs) face in integrating sustainability, highlighting the need for a holistic approach. Barriers such as awareness deficits and resistance to change emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary research. Emphasizing holistic integration and innovation is vital for seamlessly embedding sustainability within HEIs. Practical implications: Key future research themes include holistic approaches to sustainability integration, leadership for sustainable change and innovative pedagogical approaches. Additionally, it is important to explore transdisciplinary approaches in sustainability research and the role of research centers and funding in addressing sustainability challenges. Originality/value: This study provides a comprehensive overview of SHE, offering insights for researchers and practitioners, and serves as a resource for advancing sustainable educational practices.
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-960472024-12-05T01:37:30Z Systematic exploration of sustainability in higher education: a tertiary perspective Aghajani, M. Memari, A. Tumpa, R.J. Ruge, Gesa Purpose: This study aims to systematically examine 69 secondary studies to understand trends and implications in sustainability in higher education (SHE), addressing gaps in secondary studies, which often lack comprehensive thematic overviews that hinder future directions. Design/methodology/approach: This tertiary study uses meticulous thematic coding to unveil overarching themes and future research directions across seven SHE areas: institutional frameworks, campus operations, education, research, outreach and collaborations, campus experiences and assessment and reporting. Findings: The analysis reveals challenges higher education institutions (HEIs) face in integrating sustainability, highlighting the need for a holistic approach. Barriers such as awareness deficits and resistance to change emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary research. Emphasizing holistic integration and innovation is vital for seamlessly embedding sustainability within HEIs. Practical implications: Key future research themes include holistic approaches to sustainability integration, leadership for sustainable change and innovative pedagogical approaches. Additionally, it is important to explore transdisciplinary approaches in sustainability research and the role of research centers and funding in addressing sustainability challenges. Originality/value: This study provides a comprehensive overview of SHE, offering insights for researchers and practitioners, and serves as a resource for advancing sustainable educational practices. 2024 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/96047 10.1108/IJSHE-02-2024-0095 restricted
spellingShingle Aghajani, M.
Memari, A.
Tumpa, R.J.
Ruge, Gesa
Systematic exploration of sustainability in higher education: a tertiary perspective
title Systematic exploration of sustainability in higher education: a tertiary perspective
title_full Systematic exploration of sustainability in higher education: a tertiary perspective
title_fullStr Systematic exploration of sustainability in higher education: a tertiary perspective
title_full_unstemmed Systematic exploration of sustainability in higher education: a tertiary perspective
title_short Systematic exploration of sustainability in higher education: a tertiary perspective
title_sort systematic exploration of sustainability in higher education: a tertiary perspective
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/96047