Recent advances in sustainability assessment in higher education institutions through indicators frameworks and digital and AI technologies

The Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are facing increased demands for measurable sustainability performance. The existing evaluation approaches are fragmented and not well correlated with the increasing availability of digital-based operation information. Smart campus technology and digital-based systems have provided the potential for evidence-based sustainability evaluation approaches, although they have not been adequately applied in sustainability evaluation. This study aims to briefly introduce research advancements in sustainability assessment for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the post-COVID timeline (2021–2025). It includes sustainability indicators and sustainability frameworks, digital/smart campus technology, AI/analytics, and sustainability governance. The study follows a PRISMA-informed method for systematic synthesis and evaluation of research achievements across five domains, combining qualitative thematic synthesis, quantitative evaluation, and structural evaluation. The study’s major contributions include the sustainability assessment for HEIs, which is currently dominated by static sustainability indicators with limited real-time information and advanced analytics. As digital technology and AI continue to demonstrate use cases and evidence of their effectiveness for evaluating sustainability, they are currently not integrated into when considering traditional indicators and frameworks about sustainability. Therefore, after taking into account these findings, the authors of this study have outlined potential avenues for these five areas as well as ways to begin moving toward a gradual incorporation of sustainability indicator systems, digital technologies, and AI in the evaluation of sustainability for HEIs. By evaluating how sustainability assessments can be aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards, the authors have placed into context some important connections between sustainability evaluations, sustainability reporting, and sustainability-related decision-making. This study offers an important perspective regarding evaluations of sustainability for HEIs by identifying the need for a comprehensive evaluation strategy regarding sustainability.