Sustainable Assessment Tool For Higher Education Institutions In Malaysia: The Inclusion Of Education Criteria

Abstract

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) shall play a vital role in advocating sustainability due to their size and population. Given the pressing need for sustainable development and the current shortage of sustainable HEIs in Malaysia, this study aims to incorporate educational criteria into a sustainable assessment tool (SAT) for evaluating sustainable HEIs in Malaysia. This study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining a systematic literature review with the selection of suitable indicators for measuring sustainable HEIs. 30 indicators, focusing on educational criteria, were identified. Subsequently, questionnaires were conducted in ten (10) public HEIs to validate these education indicators. Analysis using SPSS software revealed that all thirty indicators were deemed essential for inclusion in the educational criteria for measuring. The study revealed 30 education indicators from the selected SATs and by employing SPSS software, the top five most significant indicators, were identified as: (1) funding for program development, (2) funding for research and innovation, (3) funding for training, (4) sustainable course and (5) sustainable research. The research mainly contributes to developing a SAT for HEIs in Malaysia which is the main research gap. Initially, it will assist green organisations and the other HEIs in creating an evaluation tool for sustainable HEIs, as the methods already in use are mostly intended for use with residential, commercial, and infrastructure facilities. Second, it will boost the total number of sustainable HEIs. Thirdly, it will allow academics to serve as sustainability assessors.