Embedding the SDGs in higher education institutions: A hierarchical regression analysis of governance factors and university sustainability

Sustainability in higher education increasingly depends on governance and institutional strategies aligned with the sustainable development goals. Examining how leadership commitment, policy alignment, institutional adaptability, stakeholder engagement, and organizational culture shape university sustainability is essential for promoting sustainable academic environments. This study explores the individual and combined impacts of these factors on university sustainability across social, economic, and environmental dimensions using hierarchical regression analysis. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 2,167 participants. Data were gathered using the researcher-developed Governance Variables and University Sustainability Scale, validated to ensure sound psychometric properties. Hierarchical regression analyses assessed the relative and combined effects of the predictors. The results reveal that policy alignment is the most influential factor for social and overall sustainability, while institutional adaptability and stakeholder engagement predominantly drive economic sustainability. Stakeholder engagement emerged as the key determinant of environmental sustainability. Leadership commitment served as a foundational influence but diminished in significance when other variables were considered. Organizational culture made incremental contributions and, in some cases, exhibited negative effects depending on the sustainability dimension. Universities should focus on coherent policy implementation, adaptable governance structures, stakeholder engagement, and a sustainability-oriented organizational culture to achieve multidimensional sustainability. The study offers new insights by conceptualizing these factors as interrelated drivers of university sustainability and highlighting the importance of systemic strategies.