This study developed a smart campus framework to help higher education institutions (HEIs) define and assess their smartness level. As HEIs faces growing demands for efficiency and competitiveness, implementing smart systems has become increasingly essential. A comprehensive framework is needed to support and improve the chances of successful adoption. This research addressed the question: how can a framework be created to measure campus smartness? The proposed framework encompasses a smart campus definition, an ideal model of smart system-based services, and a model for measuring smartness. The Design Science Research Methodology (DSRM) guided the development of the framework. Its evaluation was conducted in Indonesian HEIs to assess current smartness levels. The measurement model was validated through reliability testing (Cronbach’s Alpha = 0.883) and validity testing (Pearson Product Moment), both of which yielded strong results. Expert judgment from 10 specialists provided qualitative validation. The framework was applied across 10 campuses, involving 9,961 respondents. The results indicated that anthropocentric smartness (human-focused) was at levels 3 and 4 across all campuses, while systemic and technological smartness were mainly at level 2. Ten university leaders confirmed that the model effectively reflects actual campus conditions. The framework is built upon three perspectives of smartness: anthropocentric, systemic, and technological.
Imbar et al. (2025) studied this question.