Integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into University strategic management. A proposal for indicators

Abstract

In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the importance of the role that universities play in advancing the Agenda 2030 and integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into their institutional strategies. However, despite numerous sustainable initiatives, growing awareness and increasing commitment, many higher education institutions continue to face difficulties in translating the global goals into operational and functional frameworks. Focusing on Universidad de Cádiz (UCA), the present study aims to advance the creation of useful tools for monitoring universities' compliance with the SDGs, as well as their sustainability performance, through the exploration of various methods for measuring the social and environmental impact of higher education institutions by comparing two important initiatives: the Times Higher Education Impact Ranking, with international scope, and the proposal created by Universitat Politécnica de València (UPV) at national level. A graphical analysis reveals that SDG 5 Gender Equality, SDG 4 Quality Education, and SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being are the most emphasized in both models. The strategic objectives of Universidad de Cádiz (UCA) show a clear alignment and commitment with these priorities, confirming its consistency with relevant and recognized models of sustainability assessment. Based on these results, a set of indicators has been proposed to evaluate the Universidad de Cádiz’s sustainability strategic objectives. The findings also demonstrate UCA's dedication to sustainability and the importance of having methods which can be adapted to each specific university context for tracking progress in higher education regarding sustainable development.