Sustainability in higher education institutions within the context of sustainable development goals and Saudi Vision 2030: a case study of King Abdulaziz University

Abstract

Sustainability is increasingly recognised as an imperative rather than an option. Scholars and the international community recognise HEIs as essential catalysts for sustainable development. Their pivotal role encompasses promoting sustainability both conceptually and practically, as they educate future leaders, conduct research to tackle sustainability challenges, and implement sustainable practices within their operations. The literature emphasises sustainability in HEIs primarily from a Global North perspective, where top-ranked HEIs in sustainability are situated.

This study aims to enhance the comprehension of sustainability in Saudi public HEIs. It examines the comprehensive concept of sustainability through the case study of King Abdulaziz University (KAU), examining its meaning, practices, and drivers, as well as investigating the various impacts of KAU's sustainability initiatives through the framework of stakeholder engagement theory (SET). Qualitative data were gathered via semi-structured interviews with 43 senior managers, academics, and sustainability practitioners at KAU. The data were analysed using thematic analysis, leading to the identification of primary themes and subthemes.

The study's primary findings align with international literature on sustainability in HEIs, indicating that a comprehensive, institution-wide approach is necessary to integrate sustainability across all dimensions. The findings contribute to existing literature by suggesting that enhancing graduates' employability is a broader goal of sustainability in education than the commonly emphasised aspects, such as integrating sustainability into the curriculum and exploring effective educational strategies. This study introduces the term 'sustainable research’, which encompasses the characteristics of research sustainability, extending beyond merely addressing sustainability-related research. The study produced a model of KAU sustainability drivers, illustrating the multilevel interconnections among these drivers, with sustainability leadership functioning as a nexus among them. This research additionally proposes a model of KAU sustainability based on SET, illustrating the interconnectivity among key sustainability domains and demonstrating that stakeholder engagement activities result in various institutional, national, and international-level impacts.

Date of Award	Jul 2026
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Queen's University Belfast
Sponsors	King Abdulaziz University
Supervisor	Kieran Conroy (Supervisor) & Wojdan Omran (Supervisor)