Resumo

The 2030 Agenda outlines 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), guiding global efforts towards equity by tackling poverty, health, education, and environmental sustainability. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are crucial in this endeavor, aligning strategies with the SDGs to drive global progress. Yet, achieving these goals is hindered by geopolitical tensions and resource competition, requiring increased international cooperation. HEIs must embed sustainable practices to contribute effectively to global sustainable development efforts.

What is the contribution of HEIs to sustainable development, considering their national institutional context? The 2030 Agenda outlines 17 SDGs aimed at tackling poverty, health, education, and environmental sustainability globally. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are crucial in advancing these goals, aligning their strategies to foster global progress. Challenges like geopolitical tensions and resource competition require enhanced international cooperation. HEIs must integrate sustainable practices to effectively contribute to global sustainable development.

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) worldwide are pivotal in promoting sustainable development (SD). They embed sustainable practices into their strategies and long-term visions to bolster competitiveness and meet SD objectives. Global rankings like the Times Higher Education World University Rankings are crucial benchmarks, highlighting their strategic role in self-assessment. HEIs' SD efforts are influenced by diverse economic environments, necessitating a nuanced global perspective for effective performance.

We employ the Varieties of Capitalism (VoC) theory to investigate the impact of national institutional dimensions in HEIs' actions regarding the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from the 2030 Agenda. Relying on the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Ranking, our database spans 2019 to 2023, covering 3,749 HEIs in 59 countries. The analysis indicates that Liberal Market Economies (LME) and Economic Advanced Cities (EAC) demonstrated superior performance in SDG-related initiatives.

The evidence found regarding HEIs' actions toward SDGs in countries with capitalist liberal economies demonstrates that these institutions have showcased superior performance in SDG-related initiatives. By aligning with SDGs and utilizing their resources and influence, they extend their impact beyond academia, fostering innovation, responsible leadership, and societal change.

This alignment enhances HEIs' reputation and addresses societal challenges, laying the groundwork for SD. The research highlights a relatively unexplored domain, where HEIs' performance in SDGs and their national institutional context can either bolster or hinder their effectiveness. Furthermore, they hold significant managerial and social implications, highlighting that this new metric complements traditional educational performance rankings, offering insight into HEIs' contributions to global sustainable efforts.

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