Modern universities face a difficult balancing act: they must remain financially competitive while serving as leaders in the global movement toward sustainability.
This research investigates the growth of Sustainable Economic Development (SED) within higher education institutions by analyzing the evolution of scientific research from 1990 to 2018.
Through a bibliometric analysis of over 1,600 academic articles, the authors identify the key countries, journals, and trends that have shaped this field over nearly three decades.
The findings highlight that while nations like the United States and China are at the forefront of this production, much of the existing research has focused on environmental concerns like recycling and education rather than the economic mechanics of the institutions themselves.
The study concludes that the future of the field lies in developing concrete indicators that allow university administrators to actually measure the economic side of sustainability. By establishing these protocols, institutions can better align their daily operations with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, ensuring they contribute positively to the economy and society simultaneously.
Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126133
Reference
Abad-Segura, E., & González-Zamar, M.-D. (2021). Sustainable economic development in higher education institutions: A global analysis within the SDGs framework. Journal of Cleaner Production, 294, 126133