IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jworld/v6y2025i1p22-d1582063.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Role and Contribution of Sustainable Development Goals as a Transformative Framework in Higher Education: A Case Study of the University of Split

Author

Listed:
  • Vlatka Škokić

    (Faculty of Economics, Business and Tourism, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia)

  • Petra Jelić

    (Rector’s Office, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia)

  • Igor Jerković

    (Rector’s Office, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia)

Abstract

This study examines the role and contribution of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a transformative framework in higher education (HE), focusing on the University of Split (UOS), Croatia. By applying a qualitative longitudinal methodology, it examines how UOS has engaged with the SDG agenda while overcoming the challenges of institutional disintegration, resource scarcity, and cultural change. Data from strategy documents, action plans, and interviews with university leaders reveal a significant evolution in UOS’s strategic alignment with the SDGs, from initial compliance to a more integrated and systemic approach. This study applies Steele and Rickards’ framework of institutional engagement and innovation culture and positions the UOS journey as a pathway to a transformative scenario. The findings highlight key drivers such as strategic planning and policymaking, as well as barriers such as fragmented governance and cultural resistance that shape the UOS journey. This research contributes to the understanding of SDG implementation at universities in former transition countries and provides insights into the use of the SDG framework to drive systemic change in higher education.

Suggested Citation

  • Vlatka Škokić & Petra Jelić & Igor Jerković, 2025. "The Role and Contribution of Sustainable Development Goals as a Transformative Framework in Higher Education: A Case Study of the University of Split," World, MDPI, vol. 6(1), pages 1-19, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jworld:v:6:y:2025:i:1:p:22-:d:1582063
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4060/6/1/22/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4060/6/1/22/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Adesuwa Vanessa Agbedahin, 2019. "Sustainable development, Education for Sustainable Development, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Emergence, efficacy, eminence, and future," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(4), pages 669-680, July.
    2. Pilar Aramburuzabala & Rosario Cerrillo, 2023. "Service-Learning as an Approach to Educating for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-13, July.
    3. Nikša Alfirević & Igor Jerković & Petra Jelić & Damir Piplica & Darko Rendulić, 2024. "Sustainability Reporting and International Rankings in Higher Education: A Case of the University of Split, Croatia," World, MDPI, vol. 5(1), pages 1-12, February.
    4. United Nations UN, 2015. "Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," Working Papers id:7559, eSocialSciences.
    5. Marian Buil-Fabregá & Matilde Martínez Casanovas & Noemí Ruiz-Munzón & Walter Leal Filho, 2019. "Flipped Classroom as an Active Learning Methodology in Sustainable Development Curricula," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-15, August.
    6. Lena Malesevic Perovic & Maja Mihaljevic Kosor, 2020. "The Efficiency of Universities in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 22(54), pages 516-516, 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. Marina Volkova & Jol Stoffers & Dmitry Kochetkov, 2019. "Education Projects for Sustainable Development: Evidence from Ural Federal University," Papers 1909.03429, arXiv.org, revised Sep 2019.
    2. Paulina Schiappacasse & Bernhard Müller & Le Thuy Linh, 2019. "Towards Responsible Aggregate Mining in Vietnam," Resources, MDPI, vol. 8(3), pages 1-15, August.
    3. Pina Puntillo, 2023. "Circular economy business models: Towards achieving sustainable development goals in the waste management sector—Empirical evidence and theoretical implications," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(2), pages 941-954, March.
    4. Schlör, Holger & Venghaus, Sandra & Hake, Jürgen-Friedrich, 2018. "The FEW-Nexus city index – Measuring urban resilience," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 382-392.
    5. Jean-Louis Combes & Alexandru Minea & Pegdéwendé Nestor Sawadogo, 2019. "Assessing the effects of combating illicit financial flows on domestic tax revenue mobilization in developing countries," CERDI Working papers halshs-02019073, HAL.
    6. Nelson, Ewan & Warren, Peter, 2020. "UK transport decoupling: On track for clean growth in transport?," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 39-51.
    7. Ibrahim Ari & Muammer Koc, 2018. "Sustainable Financing for Sustainable Development: Understanding the Interrelations between Public Investment and Sovereign Debt," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-25, October.
    8. R. Ebrahimi & S. Choobchian & H. Farhadian & I. Goli & E. Farmandeh & H. Azadi, 2022. "Investigating the effect of vocational education and training on rural women’s empowerment," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-11, December.
    9. Benjamin Nölting & Bettina König & Anne B. Zimmermann & Antonietta Di Giulio & Martina Schäfer & Flurina Schneider, 2022. "Dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic: an opportunity to reflect on sustainability research," Sustainability Nexus Forum, Springer, vol. 30(1), pages 11-27, December.
    10. Nakakawa, Frances & Mugisha, Johnny & Kaaya, Archileo N. & Tumwesigye, Nazarius M. & Hennessey, Martina, 2024. "Nutrition education effects on food and nutrition security for women living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    11. Rashmi Jaipal, 2017. "Psychology at the Crossroads," Psychology and Developing Societies, , vol. 29(2), pages 125-159, September.
    12. Bárbara Galleli & Elder Semprebon & Joyce Aparecida Ramos dos Santos & Noah Emanuel Brito Teles & Mateus Santos de Freitas-Martins & Raquel Teodoro da Silva Onevetch, 2021. "Institutional Pressures, Sustainable Development Goals and COVID-19: How Are Organisations Engaging?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-21, November.
    13. Sagarika Dey & Priyanka Devi, 2019. "Impact of TVET on Labour Market Outcomes and Women’s Empowerment in Rural Areas: A Case Study from Cachar District, Assam," Indian Journal of Human Development, , vol. 13(3), pages 357-371, December.
    14. Rostami-Tabar, Bahman & Ali, Mohammad M. & Hong, Tao & Hyndman, Rob J. & Porter, Michael D. & Syntetos, Aris, 2022. "Forecasting for social good," International Journal of Forecasting, Elsevier, vol. 38(3), pages 1245-1257.
    15. Maria Sassi, 2020. "A SEM Approach to the Direct and Indirect Links between WaSH Services and Access to Food in Countries in Protracted Crises: The Case of Western Bahr-el-Ghazal State, South Sudan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-13, November.
    16. Seebacher, Moritz, 2023. "Pathways to progress: The complementarity of bicycles and road infrastructure for girls’ education," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    17. Christina Tsouti & Christina Papadaskalopoulou & Angeliki Konsta & Panagiotis Andrikopoulos & Margarita Panagiotopoulou & Sofia Papadaki & Christos Boukouvalas & Magdalini Krokida & Katerina Valta, 2023. "Investigating the Environmental Benefits of Novel Films for the Packaging of Fresh Tomatoes Enriched with Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Compounds through Life Cycle Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-22, May.
    18. Olga Stepanova & Magdalena Romanov, 2021. "Urban Planning as a Strategy to Implement Social Sustainability Policy Goals? The Case of Temporary Housing for Immigrants in Gothenburg, Sweden," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-17, February.
    19. Alberto Bertossi & Stefania Troiano & Francesco Marangon, 2022. "Where is sustainability? An assessment of vending products," RIVISTA DI STUDI SULLA SOSTENIBILITA', FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 0(1), pages 155-180.
    20. Michel, Hanno, 2020. "From local to global: The role of knowledge, transfer, and capacity building for successful energy transitions," Discussion Papers, Research Group Digital Mobility and Social Differentiation SP III 2020-603, WZB Berlin Social Science Center.

    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:jworld:v:6:y:2025:i:1:p:22-:d:1582063. 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.