Measuring the Impact of Higher Education in Promoting Sustainable Development Goals: Analysis of the Arab universities’ performance

Saleh A. K. Saleh


Umm Al-Qura University, Faculty of Medicine, Biochemistry Department, Makkah (Saudi Arabia)
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9522-9198

Heba M. Adly


Umm Al-Qura University, Faculty of Medicine, Community Medicine and Pilgrims Healthcare Department, Makkah (Saudi Arabia)
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9222-9149

Abstract

Sustainability's global importance has amplified the role of universities in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through research, education, and community engagement. Aim: This study aims to provide valuable insights into the role of Arab universities in promoting sustainability within the context of global higher education. Approach and methods: This study analyzes the performance of 200 universities from 15 Arab countries in the THE IMPACT Rankings. Their performance was compared to 135 universities from three of the leading world-class higher education systems: Canada, UK, and USA. Results: A global demand for sustainable development, Arab universities face challenges in improving their contributions to the SDGs and sustainability rankings. Despite the impressive growth in the participation of Arab universities in THE IMPACT Rankings yet lags in quality and impact of Arab universities contributions towards SDGs. Conclusion: The policy implications underscore the importance of institutional commitment to sustainability in Arab universities, urging the alignment of policies, funding, and curriculum with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Arab universities need to bridge performance gaps, promote green initiatives, and contribute effectively to the achievement of SDGs while recognizing the diverse socio-economic context and priorities of the Arab region.


Keywords:

Higher Education, sustainability, Sustainable development goals, SDGs, Arab universities

AASHE, 2022, Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS), https://stars.aashe.org/.
  Google Scholar

ABERA H.G., 2022, The Role of Education in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A Global Evi-dence Based Research Article, International Journal of Social Science and Education Research Studies, 3(1), https://doi.org/10.55677/ijssers/V03I1Y2023-09.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55677/ijssers/V03I1Y2023-09   Google Scholar

ABUBAKAR I.R., AINA Y.A., ALSHUWAITKHAT H.M., 2020, Sustainable Development at Saudi Arabian Universi-ties: An Overview of Institutional Frameworks, Sustainability, 12(19): 8008, https://doi.org/10.3390/su12198008.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su12198008   Google Scholar

ALTBACH P.G., de WIT H., 2018, The challenge to higher education internationalization, University World News, https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20180327095216637.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.6017/ihe.0.93.10414   Google Scholar

ANSD, 2015, Arab Network for Sustainable Development, https://www.ansd.e.org/.
  Google Scholar

ASREN, 2021, Arab States Research and Education Network, https://asrenorg.net/.
  Google Scholar

BYSTROV I., PANIGRAHI S.K., 2021, Commitment of Higher Education Institutions to Sustainability Agenda: Evi-dences from GCC Countries, Journal of Contemporary Issues in Business and Government, 27(2), https://doi.org/ 10.47750/cibg.2021.27.02.438.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.47750/cibg.2021.27.02.438   Google Scholar

CHANKSELIANI M., McCOWAN T., 2021, Higher education and the Sustainable Development Goals, Higher Educa-tion, 81: 1-8, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-020-00652-w.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-020-00652-w   Google Scholar

DEMAIDI M.N., AL-SAHILI K., 2021, Integrating SDGs in Higher Education – Case of Climate Change Awareness and Gender Equality in a Developing Country According to RMEI-TARGET Strategy, Sustainability, 13(6): 3101, https://doi.org/10.3390/su13063101.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su13063101   Google Scholar

DISTERHEFT A., CAEIRO S., AZEITEIRO U.M., LEAL FILHO W., 2015, Sustainable universities – a study of critical success factors for participatory approaches, Journal of Cleaner Production, 106: 11-21, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.01.030.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.01.030   Google Scholar

EL-JARDALI F., ATAYA N., FADLALLAH R., 2018, Changing roles of universities in the era of SDGs: rising up to the global challenge through institutionalizing partnerships with governments and communities, Health Research Policy and Systems, 16(38), https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-018-0318-9.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-018-0318-9   Google Scholar

FINDLER F., SCHONHERR N., LOZANO R., REIDER D., MARTINUZZI A., 2019, The impacts of higher education institutions on sustainable development: A review and conceptualization, International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 20(1): 23-38, https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-07-2017-0114.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-07-2017-0114   Google Scholar

GUNi, 2018, Approaches to SDG 17 Partnerships for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), https://www.academia.edu/40903245/Approaches_to_SDG_17_Partnerships_for_the_Sustainable_Development_Goals_SDGs.
  Google Scholar

GUNi, 2020, Higher Education in the World 7: Humanities and Higher Education: Synergies between Science, Technolo-gy and Humanities, http://www.guninetwork.org/report/higher-education-world-7.
  Google Scholar

HAMMER T., LEWIS A.L., 2023, Which competencies should be fostered in education for sustainable development at higher education institutions? Findings from the evaluation of the study programs at the University of Bern, Switzerland, Discover Sustainability, 4: 19, https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-023-00134-w.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-023-00134-w   Google Scholar

KHARAS H., McARTHUR J. W., OHNO I. (eds.), 2020, Leave No One Behind: Time for Specifics on the Sustainable Development Goals, Brookings Institution Press, http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7864/j.ctvkjb38.
  Google Scholar

LAMBRECHTS W., GHIJSEN P.W., JACQUES A., WALRAVENS H., VAN LIEDEKERKE L., VAN PETEGEM P., 2019, Sustainability segmentation of business students: toward self-regulated development of critical and interpretational competences in a post-truth era, Journal of Cleaner Production, 228: 708-719, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro. 2018.07.303.
  Google Scholar

LEAL FILHO W., BRANDLI L.L., LANGE SALVIA, A., RAYMAN-BACCHUS L., PLATJE J., 2020, COVID-19 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals: Threat to Solidarity or an Opportunity?, Sustainability, 12(13): 5343, https://doi.org/10.3390/su12135343.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su12135343   Google Scholar

LEAL FILHO W., EMBLEN-PERRY K., MOLTHAN-HILL P., MIFSUD M., VERHOEF L., AZEITEIRO U.M., BACELAR-NICOLAU P., DE SOUSA L.O., CASTRO P., BEYNAGHI A., BODDY J., LANGE SALVIA A., FRANKENBERGER F., PRICE E., 2019, Implementing Innovation on Environmental Sustainability at Universities Around the World, Sustainability, 11(14): 3807, https://doi.org/10.3390/su11143807.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su11143807   Google Scholar

LEAL FILHO W., CORONADO-MARIN A., LANGE SALVIA A., FRANKENBERGER SILVA F., WOLF F., LE-VASSEUR T., KIRRANE M.J., DONI F., PACO A., BLICHARSKA M. et al., 2022, International Trends and Practices on Sustainability Reporting in Higher Education Institutions, Sustainability, 14(19): 12238, https://doi.org/ 10.3390/su141912238.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912238   Google Scholar

LOPEZ B., 2022, How Higher Education Promotes the Integration of Sustainable Development Goals – An Experience in the Postgraduate Curricula, Sustainability, 14(4): 2271, https://doi.org/10.3390/su14042271.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su14042271   Google Scholar

LOZANO R., MERRILL M.Y., SAMMALISTO K., CEULEMANS K., LOZANO F.J., 2023, Connecting Competences and Pedagogical Approaches for Sustainable Development in Higher Education: A Literature Review and Framework Pro-posal, Sustainability, 11(6): 1694, https://doi.org/10.3390/su9101889.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su9101889   Google Scholar

MARGINSON S., 2011, Higher education in East Asia and Singapore: Rise of the Confucian Model, Higher Education, 61: 587-611, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-010-9384-9.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-010-9384-9   Google Scholar

NIEDLICH S., BAUER M., DONELIENE M., JAEGER L., RIECKMANN M., BORMANN I., 2020, Assessment of Sustainability Governance in Higher Education Institutions-A Systemic Tool Using a Governance Equalizer, Sustainabil-ity, 12(5): 1816, https://doi.org/10.3390/su12051816.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su12051816   Google Scholar

OMAR O., EL-BASTAWISSI I., 2023, Bringing the SDGs to Life by 2030: Best Practices in Higher Education Within the Middle East Region, https://doi.10.1007/978-3-030-91260-4_2-1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-91260-4_2-1   Google Scholar

QS, 2023, QS World University Rankings, https://www.topuniversities.com/qs-world-university-rankings.
  Google Scholar

ROMANI V., FELDMAN S., CHERNIAHIVSKY K., SOHRABI N., ALY A., SHIKAKI K., 2008, The Politics of Higher Education in the Middle East: Problems and Prospects, Middle East Brief, 36, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/239541661.
  Google Scholar

SALMI J., 2009, The challenge of establishing world-class universities, Directions in Development; human development, World Bank, http://hdl.handle.net/10986/2600,
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1596/978-0-8213-7865-6   Google Scholar

SCIMAGO (Scimago Institution Rankings), 2023, Atmospheric Science Research and Innovations, https://www.scimagoir.com/rankings.php?sector=Higher+educ.&country=ARAB+COUNTRIES&area=1902&ranking=.
  Google Scholar

SINGH A., BLESSINGER P., 2023, Examining the Role and Challenges of Sustainable Development Goals for the Uni-versities in the United Arab Emirates, Sustainability, 15(20): 15123, https://doi.org/10.3390/su152015123.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su152015123   Google Scholar

THE, 2023, Impact Rankings, https://www.timeshighereducation.com/impactrankings.
  Google Scholar

TRENCHER G., YARIME M., McCORMICK K.B., DOLL C.N.H., KRAINES S., 2014, Beyond the third mission: Exploring the emerging university function of co-creation for sustainability, Science and Public Policy, 41(2): 151-179, https://doi.org/10.1093/scipol/sct044.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/scipol/sct044   Google Scholar

UI GREENMETRIC, 2022, World University Ranking, https://greenmetric.ui.ac.id/about/letter-from-rector.
  Google Scholar

UNDP, 2020, Arab Human Development Report 2020, United Nations Development Program, United Nations publica-tion, https://www.unescwa.org/.
  Google Scholar

UNESCO, 2020, Education for Sustainable Development: A roadmap, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, https://doi.org/10.54675/YFRE1448.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54675/YFRE1448   Google Scholar

WAAS T., VEBRUGGEN A., WRIGHT T., 2010, University research for sustainable development: Definition and char-acteristics explored, Journal of Cleaner Production, 18(7): 629-636, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2009.09.017.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2009.09.017   Google Scholar

WORLD BANK, 2018, Poverty and Shared Prosperity 2018: Piecing Together the Poverty Puzzle, Washington, DC, https://doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-1330-6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-1330-6   Google Scholar

WORLD BANK 2023, Arab Region Economic Update 2023: Building a Resilient Recovery, https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/mena/publication/mena-economic-update.
  Google Scholar

ZAIDAN E., AL-SAIDI M., HAMMAD S., 2019, Sustainable development in the Arab world – is the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region fit for the challenge?, Development in Practice, 29: 670-681, https://doi.org/10.1080/ 09614524.2019.1628922.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09614524.2019.1628922   Google Scholar

Download


Published
2024-01-08

Cited by

Saleh, S. A. K., & Adly, H. M. (2024). Measuring the Impact of Higher Education in Promoting Sustainable Development Goals: Analysis of the Arab universities’ performance. Problemy Ekorozwoju, 19(1), 261–274. https://doi.org/10.35784/preko.5384

Authors

Saleh A. K. Saleh 

Umm Al-Qura University, Faculty of Medicine, Biochemistry Department, Makkah Saudi Arabia
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9522-9198

Authors

Heba M. Adly 

Umm Al-Qura University, Faculty of Medicine, Community Medicine and Pilgrims Healthcare Department, Makkah Saudi Arabia
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9222-9149

Statistics

Abstract views: 294
PDF downloads: 596


License

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.