IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i2p607-d1566959.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Sustainable Campus Operations in Higher Education Institutions: A Systematic Literature Review

Author

Listed:
  • Miguel Carvalho Oliveira

    (FEP School of Economics and Management, University of Porto, 4200-464 Porto, Portugal)

  • João Proença

    (FEP School of Economics and Management, University of Porto, 4200-464 Porto, Portugal
    ADVANCE/ISEG Research, ISEG, Universidade de Lisboa, R. Miguel Lupi 20, 1249-078 Lisbon, Portugal)

Abstract

This paper presents a systematic literature review (SLR) to provide a comprehensive understanding of higher education literature focusing on the implementation of sustainable campus operations. The implementation of on-campus sustainable operations represents a pivotal path for promoting sustainability in the higher education context. Nonetheless, only a scarce number of studies provide a comprehensive assessment of the existing literature on the topic of sustainable campus operations in higher education institutions (HEIs). Accordingly, our research intends to fill this gap. Our review identified 130 focal articles that were predominantly published in high-impact journals. Key themes identified in the literature include carbon neutrality, energy use, waste management, environmental management, and circular economy, with a notable emphasis on the interconnectedness of these topics. The review also highlights the critical role of institutional leadership, governance structures, stakeholder engagement, and technological innovation in driving sustainability on campuses. Despite the growing body of literature, research gaps were identified, including the need for more comparative studies, exploration of funding mechanisms, and improvements in data collection and reporting practices. This study underscores the importance of adopting a structured, holistic approach to campus sustainability in HEIs, which can inform policy development, enhance decision-making, and pave the way for more effective sustainability strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Miguel Carvalho Oliveira & João Proença, 2025. "Sustainable Campus Operations in Higher Education Institutions: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-34, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:2:p:607-:d:1566959
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/2/607/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/2/607/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Obu Samson Showers & Sunetra Chowdhury, 2024. "Enhancing Energy Supply Reliability for University Lecture Halls Using Photovoltaic-Battery Microgrids: A South African Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-26, June.
    2. Zinette Bergman & Manfred Max Bergman & Kiran Fernandes & Daphne Grossrieder & Lea Schneider, 2018. "The Contribution of UNESCO Chairs toward Achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-16, November.
    3. Rubén Garrido-Yserte & María-Teresa Gallo-Rivera, 2020. "The Potential Role of Stakeholders in the Energy Efficiency of Higher Education Institutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-17, October.
    4. Carolina Feliciana Machado & J. Paulo Davim, 2023. "Sustainability in the Modernization of Higher Education: Curricular Transformation and Sustainable Campus—A Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-28, May.
    5. Ana M. Barreiros & Anabela Durão & Ana Galvão & Cristina Matos & Dina Mateus & Ivo Araújo & Luís Neves & Mário Matos & Sandra Mourato, 2023. "Analyzing Green Behavior and the Rational Use of Water in Portuguese Higher Education Campi," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-16, February.
    6. Ana M. Barreiros & Anabela Durão & Ana Galvão & Cristina Matos & Dina Mateus & Ivo Araújo & Luís Neves & Sandra Mourato, 2024. "Higher Education Institutions’ Students’ Literacy in Sustainable Use of Potable Water," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-21, June.
    7. Wadud, Zia & Royston, Sarah & Selby, Jan, 2019. "Modelling energy demand from higher education institutions: A case study of the UK," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 233, pages 816-826.
    8. Ben Tirone Nunes & Simon J. T. Pollard & Paul J. Burgess & Gareth Ellis & Irel Carolina De los Rios & Fiona Charnley, 2018. "University Contributions to the Circular Economy: Professing the Hidden Curriculum," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-24, August.
    9. Faham, Elham & Rezvanfar, Ahmad & Movahed Mohammadi, Seyed Hamid & Rajabi Nohooji, Meisam, 2017. "Using system dynamics to develop education for sustainable development in higher education with the emphasis on the sustainability competencies of students," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 307-326.
    10. Matthew Moerschbaecher & John W. Day, 2010. "The Greenhouse Gas Inventory of Louisiana State University: A Case Study of the Energy Requirements of Public Higher Education in the United States," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 2(7), pages 1-18, July.
    11. Xue Jin & S. M. Ferdous Azam & Jacquline Tham, 2024. "Challenges of sustainable public procurement in Chinese higher education institutions: a Delphi study," Journal of Public Procurement, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 24(3), pages 371-392, July.
    12. Liziane Araújo da Silva & Ana Regina de Aguiar Dutra & José Baltazar Salgueirinho Osório de Andrade Guerra, 2023. "Decarbonization in Higher Education Institutions as a Way to Achieve a Green Campus: A Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-17, February.
    13. William Horan & Rachel Shawe & Bernadette O’Regan, 2019. "Ireland’s Transition towards a Low Carbon Society: The Leadership Role of Higher Education Institutions in Solar Photovoltaic Niche Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-12, January.
    14. Idiano D’Adamo & Massimo Gastaldi, 2023. "Perspectives and Challenges on Sustainability: Drivers, Opportunities and Policy Implications in Universities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-6, February.
    15. Fatin Samara & Sahar Ibrahim & Mohammed Ekrima Yousuf & Rose Armour, 2022. "Carbon Footprint at a United Arab Emirates University: GHG Protocol," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-22, February.
    16. Irina Maiorescu & Gabriel Cristian Sabou & Mihaela Bucur & Razvan Daniel Zota, 2020. "Sustainability Barriers and Motivations in Higher Education – A Students’ Perspective," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 22(54), pages 362-362, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Amila Omazic & Bernd Markus Zunk, 2021. "Semi-Systematic Literature Review on Sustainability and Sustainable Development in Higher Education Institutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-45, July.
    2. Foroudi, Pantea & Yu, Qionglei & Gupta, Suraksha & Foroudi, Mohammad M., 2019. "Enhancing university brand image and reputation through customer value co-creation behaviour," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 218-227.
    3. Leslie Cardoza Cedillo & Michelle Montoya & Mónica Jaldón & Ma Guadalupe Paredes, 2023. "GHG Emission Accounting and Reduction Strategies in the Academic Sector: A Case Study in Mexico," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-18, June.
    4. Kate Melville-Rea & Stefan K. Arndt, 2024. "Net-Zero Heroes? Climate Change Mitigation Efforts and Strategies across Australian Group-of-Eight Universities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-15, April.
    5. Matei Florin-Bogdan & Nimerenco Ina & Soare Bianca Eugenia & Grădinaru Giani Ionel, 2023. "The Role of Universities in Achieving the Key Objectives of the Circular Economy Strategy," Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, Sciendo, vol. 17(1), pages 512-523, July.
    6. Denise Anselmi & Idiano D’Adamo & Massimo Gastaldi & Ginevra Virginia Lombardi, 2024. "A comparison of economic, environmental and social performance of European countries: a sustainable development goal index," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(8), pages 20653-20677, August.
    7. Kirstie O’Neill & Charlotte Sinden, 2021. "Universities, Sustainability, and Neoliberalism: Contradictions of the Climate Emergency Declarations," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(2), pages 29-40.
    8. Christian Rammel & Oliver Vettori, 2021. "Dealing with the Intangible: Using the Analytical Lens of Hidden Curricula for a Transformative Paradigm of Sustainable Higher Education," Journal of Education for Sustainable Development, , vol. 15(2), pages 234-249, September.
    9. Aleksander Buczacki & Bartłomiej Gładysz & Erika Palmer, 2021. "HoReCa Food Waste and Sustainable Development Goals—A Systemic View," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-16, May.
    10. Muhammad Umar Afzaal & Intisar Ali Sajjad & Ahmed Bilal Awan & Kashif Nisar Paracha & Muhammad Faisal Nadeem Khan & Abdul Rauf Bhatti & Muhammad Zubair & Waqas ur Rehman & Salman Amin & Shaikh Saaqib , 2020. "Probabilistic Generation Model of Solar Irradiance for Grid Connected Photovoltaic Systems Using Weibull Distribution," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-17, March.
    11. Syed Mithun Ali & Andrea Appolloni & Fausto Cavallaro & Idiano D’Adamo & Assunta Di Vaio & Francesco Ferella & Massimo Gastaldi & Muhammad Ikram & Nallapaneni Manoj Kumar & Michael Alan Martin & Abdul, 2023. "Development Goals towards Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-11, June.
    12. Zinette Bergman, 2019. "Trains in the Land of the Car: A Case Study of Mobility as Agency in the United States," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-12, November.
    13. Asif Saeed & Umara Noreen & Akbar Azam & Muhammad Sohail Tahir, 2021. "Does CSR Governance Improve Social Sustainability and Reduce the Carbon Footprint: International Evidence from the Energy Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-16, March.
    14. Riccardo Boiocchi & Marco Ragazzi & Vincenzo Torretta & Elena Cristina Rada, 2023. "Critical Analysis of the GreenMetric World University Ranking System: The Issue of Comparability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-15, January.
    15. Roberta Pinna & Gianfranco Cicotto & Hosein Jafarkarimi, 2023. "Student’s Co-Creation Behavior in a Business and Economic Bachelor’s Degree in Italy: Influence of Perceived Service Quality, Institutional Image, and Loyalty," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-20, June.
    16. Andra-Teodora Gorski & Elena-Diana Ranf & Dorel Badea & Elisabeta-Emilia Halmaghi & Hortensia Gorski, 2023. "Education for Sustainability—Some Bibliometric Insights," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-17, October.
    17. Víctor Meseguer-Sánchez & Emilio Abad-Segura & Luis Jesús Belmonte-Ureña & Valentín Molina-Moreno, 2020. "Examining the Research Evolution on the Socio-Economic and Environmental Dimensions on University Social Responsibility," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-30, July.
    18. Joaquín Fuentes-del-Burgo & Elena Navarro-Astor & Nuno M. M. Ramos & João Poças Martins, 2021. "Exploring the Critical Barriers to the Implementation of Renewable Technologies in Existing University Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-24, November.
    19. Eskander, Shaikh M.S.U. & Nitschke, Jakob, 2021. "Energy use and CO2 emissions in the UK universities: an extended Kaya identity analysis," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 110764, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    20. Love Kumar & Ramna Kumari & Avinash Kumar & Imran Aziz Tunio & Claudio Sassanelli, 2023. "Water Quality Assessment and Monitoring in Pakistan: A Comprehensive Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-38, April.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:2:p:607-:d:1566959. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.