Embedding Sustainability Commitments in the Strategic Plans of European Higher Education Institutions

This study analyses how European universities embed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into their strategic planning, proposing an integrative and multistakeholder measurement tool— Strategizer Scoring System (SDG‐3S). The research combines the Delphi method, content analysis of 198 strategic plans from universities in 33 European countries, and cluster analysis to identify universities' sustainability profiles. The Delphi process, involving 24 experts, validated the keywords used to assess the explicit and implicit presence of SDG‐related concepts in strategic plans. Results reveal a heterogeneous and uneven integration of sustainability across institutions. Cluster analysis identifies four groups of universities, ranging from those with symbolic or limited inclusion of sustainability to those demonstrating a high and balanced level of strategic integration. The findings highlight the need for a holistic and inclusive approach to sustainability management in higher education, capable of addressing the expectations of multiple stakeholders and contributing effectively to the 2030 Agenda. This study contributes an innovative and validated measurement tool, the SDG‐3S, for assessing sustainability integration in higher education strategic management. It provides new insights into institutional diversity in SDG adoption and highlights the importance of a holistic, inclusive approach to sustainability governance that aligns with the expectations of multiple stakeholders and supports the goals of the 2030 Agenda.