AN ANALYTICAL REVIEW ON INITIATIVES FOR A SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS OPERATION IN MALAYSIAN PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Abstract

Sustainability in higher education has become a global imperative. Understanding the successful implementation of campus operation initiatives is pivotal to the transition to sustainable practices. Sustainability becomes a critical priority for higher education institutions as they strive to align their operations with environmentally friendly practices. This research aims to review the current sustainable initiatives implemented in Malaysian public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), specifically focusing on their campus operations. Thus, the research methodology employed in this paper utilised the bibliometrics approach, involving retrieving written publications from the Scopus database and document analyses from each institution. An exhaustive literature review facilitated the identification of eight key areas encompassing the sustainable campus operation initiatives. The findings unveiled that buildings, air & climate, energy, food, grounds, transportation, waste management, and water management were pivotal components driving the attainment of a sustainable campus operation. Nevertheless, in pursuing sustainability, it is noteworthy that only a few public HEIs in Malaysia have embraced these initiatives. The progress towards sustainable development in Malaysian higher education institutions still needs to meet the target outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Hence, it is recommended that the adoption of sustainable practices across all HEIs in Malaysia be increased by enhancing the level of awareness, allocating resources, and consistently monitoring to bridge the current gaps.