Scholarly record
INTEGRATING THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS IN HIGHER EDUCATION: THE CASE OF TRANSILVANIA UNIVERSITY OF BRA?OV
Abstract
In the global context of the 2030 Agenda, the integration of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in higher education has become essential for advancing societal, economic and environmental resilience. Universities play a key role in this process through their missions in education, research, governance and community engagement. This paper examines how Transilvania University of Bra?ov (UTBv) implements the SDGs, using a qualitative case study approach, based on the analysis of internal strategic documents, institutional policies and operational reports. The results reveal that UTBv has achieved a solid strategic alignment with the 2030 Agenda, prioritising sustainability as a transversal institutional objective and developing significant expertise in areas corresponding to SDGs 4, 8, 9, 13 and 17. At the same time, the findings indicate selective adoption of SDGs, fragmented operational implementation across faculties and limited monitoring practices, with reporting currently focused on only four SDGs included in international rankings. The analysis highlights both key strengths, such as strong research capacities, active participation in European networks and robust governance measures, as well as structural challenges related to uneven engagement, decentralised practices and the absence of unified institutional coordination. By addressing these dimensions, the study contributes to a deeper understanding of SDG internalisation in Romanian higher education and supports the development of more coherent, measurable and scalable approaches to sustainability within universities.
Publication Impact Profile
Publication details
References10
Nhamo G., Mjimba V., The context: SDGs and institutions of higher education, Sustainable development goals and institutions of higher education, Switzerland, 2019, pp. 1-13, ISBN 978-3-030-26156-6. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-26157-3_1
Althonayan A., Tarasova E. E., Isaenko E. V., The Role of Higher Educational Institutions in the Implementation of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Globalistics and Globalization Studies, 2021, pp. 217-227, ISBN 9785705740284.
Leal Filho W., Simaens A., Pa o A., Hernandez-Diaz P. M., Vasconcelos C. R., Fritzen B., Mac-Lean C., Integrating the Sustainable Development Goals into the strategy of higher education institutions, International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, vol. 30, issue 5, pp. 564-575, 2023, DOI: 10.1080/13504509.2023.2167884.
Filho W. L., Sierra J., Price E., Eustachio J. H. P. P., Novikau A., Kirrane M., Salvia A. L., The role of universities in accelerating the sustainable development goals in Europe, Scientific Reports, vol. 14, issue 1, 15464, 2024, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65820-9.
Kestin T., Lumbreras J., Cort s Puch M., Accelerating education for the SDGs in universities: A guide for universities, colleges and tertiary and higher education institutions, Sustainable Development Solutions Network, 2020.
Alcantara-Rubio L., Valderrama-Hernandez R., Sol s-Espallargas C., Ruiz-Morales J., The implementation of the SDGs in universities: a systematic review, Environmental Education Research, vol. 28, issue 11, pp. 1585-1615, 2022, DOI: 10.1080/13504622.2022.2063798.
Mori Junior R., Fien J., Horne R., Implementing the UN SDGs in universities: challenges, opportunities and lessons learned, Sustainability: The Journal of Record, vol. 12, issue 2, pp. 129-133, 2019, DOI: 10.1089/sus.2019.0004.
Stensaker B., Hermansen H., Global, Nordic, or institutional visions? An investigation into how Nordic universities are adapting to the SDGs, Higher Education, vol. 89, issue 2, pp. 293-309, 2025, DOI: 10.1007/s10734-023-01047-3.
Ketlhoilwe M. J., Silo N., Velempini K., Enhancing the roles and responsibilities of higher education institutions in implementing the sustainable development goals, Sustainable development goals and institutions of higher education, Switzerland, 2019, pp. 121-130, ISBN 978-3-030-26156-6. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-26157-3_10
Raimo N., Nicol G., L'Abate V., Vitolla F., Analyzing the factors affecting university contributions to achieving the sustainable development goals in European Union countries, Sustainable Development, vol. 32, issue 6, pp. 6033-6044, 2024, DOI: 10.1002/sd.3013.
View or Download full articleAccess options
SWS access login
Login as SWS Scientific CommitteeLogin as SWS Scientific PartnerLogin as SWS AuthorAuthors and approved SWS contributors will read and export their own linked papers after identity matching by SWS profile, email and SGEM GlobalID.
For librarian assistance: [email protected]
Purchase Instant Access
- Article can be downloaded after successful payment.
- Article may be used according to SWS library access terms.
- Article cannot be redistributed.