Towards a Sustainable Campus: A Review of Plans, Policies, and Guidelines on Sustainability in Malaysian Public Higher Education Institutions

Abstract

Higher education institutions (HEIs) are central to promoting and implementing a sustainability agenda. In Malaysia, fostering sustainability in campus development is gaining significance, addressing not only environmental but also social and economic dimensions of sustainability. Although many HEIs have committed to sustainable practices aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a comprehensive evaluation of strategic planning for sustainable development within Malaysian public HEIs remains limited. To address this gap, this paper reviews 63 sustainability-related documents retrieved from the official websites of 20 Malaysian public HEIs from 2018 to 2023. These documents, comprising 32% policies, 41% reports, and 27% blueprints, were analyzed using a qualitative methodology based on web document analysis. The research reveals that 85% of Malaysian HEIs have adopted a Sustainability Action Plan, demonstrating strong overall commitment. Analysis using the community-colored bipartite network graph further highlights varied engagement with specific policies, showing that the Sustainability Action Plan is widely adopted, whereas initiatives such as Green Procurement and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Alignment have limited uptake. This variation presents opportunities for less engaged HEIs to improve their sustainability efforts by learning from best practices. Overall, this study offers important evidence that advances the understanding of sustainability practices in higher education, highlighting the pivotal role of public universities in driving a more sustainable and conscientious campus development landscape.