Attaining higher education sustainability goals through the adoption of modern technologies

Higher education institutes (HEI) effect global sustainability goals in two key dimensions: the first being their own physical and environmental impact (due to factors like campus design, consumption of resources, waste production etc.). Secondly, they are a critical venue to impart education and awareness about sustainability principles that can be studied, discussed and refined to be applied in terms of policies and practice. Clear sustainability goals are the metrics through which progress in attainment of such goals can be assessed and tracked. While a variety of approaches are being employed to introduce sustainability both at an administrative and academic level, they face numerous challenges. Many of these challenges can either be mitigated or better managed with the use of modern technologies. In this article, we present an overview of various pivotal technologies that can used to assist in attaining sustainability goals in HEIs and it then defines a framework consisting of these technological tools that can be used in this context. Several use cases of technologies used to achieve sustainability goals in HEIs have been presented. Finally, several open challenges and future opportunities in the area of technology assisted sustainable higher education have been identified.