EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

  • Unique Paper ID: 202117
  • Volume: 12
  • Issue: 12
  • PageNo: 6161-6169
  • Abstract:
  • Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is a key strategy for higher education institutions advancing global sustainability objectives. Universities develop sustainable mindsets among students while influencing practices and societal transformation. Despite expanding research on ESD, studies show fragmentation in focus, methodology, and outcomes, highlighting the need for systematic literature synthesis. This study reviews scholarly research on Education for Sustainable Development in higher education from 2020-2025 to identify key themes, pedagogical methods, and outcomes. In accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic literature review was executed utilizing three prominent academic databases: Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Following the application of predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 30 peer-reviewed and authoritative studies were selected for the final analysis. The review employed both descriptive and thematic analysis techniques to synthesize findings across the selected studies. The analysis reveals five themes: incorporating sustainability in higher education curricula, innovative pedagogies for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), student learning outcomes, institutional strategies, and implementation obstacles. While institutions increasingly recognize sustainability education's importance, implementation remains inconsistent due to resource challenges. The review highlights ESD's potential in developing sustainable thinking, emphasizing the need for empirical research to enhance impact in higher education.

Copyright & License

Copyright © 2026 Authors retain the copyright of this article. This article is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

BibTeX

@article{202117,
        author = {Ms Preema Victorin Tauro and Dr Swapna Rose},
        title = {EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {12},
        pages = {6161-6169},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=202117},
        abstract = {Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is a key strategy for higher education institutions advancing global sustainability objectives. Universities develop sustainable mindsets among students while influencing practices and societal transformation. Despite expanding research on ESD, studies show fragmentation in focus, methodology, and outcomes, highlighting the need for systematic literature synthesis. This study reviews scholarly research on Education for Sustainable Development in higher education from 2020-2025 to identify key themes, pedagogical methods, and outcomes.
In accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic literature review was executed utilizing three prominent academic databases: Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Following the application of predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 30 peer-reviewed and authoritative studies were selected for the final analysis. The review employed both descriptive and thematic analysis techniques to synthesize findings across the selected studies.
The analysis reveals five themes: incorporating sustainability in higher education curricula, innovative pedagogies for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), student learning outcomes, institutional strategies, and implementation obstacles. While institutions increasingly recognize sustainability education's importance, implementation remains inconsistent due to resource challenges. The review highlights ESD's potential in developing sustainable thinking, emphasizing the need for empirical research to enhance impact in higher education.},
        keywords = {Education for Sustainable Development, Higher Education, Sustainability Education, Sustainable Development Goals, Systematic Literature Review.},
        month = {May},
        }

Cite This Article

Tauro, M. P. V., & Rose, D. S. (2026). EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW. International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology (IJIRT), 12(12), 6161–6169.

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