IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/sustdv/v34y2026i2p2386-2408.html

Sustainable Development Integration in Higher Education Institutions: Challenges and Opportunities in the Age of AI and Big Data

Author

Listed:
  • Darren Yi Sern Low
  • Kar Ming Shaw
  • Poovarasi Balan

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) and big data have revolutionized various industries, including education, by improving efficiency and decision‐making. Within higher education institutions (HEIs), these technologies hold immense potential in advancing sustainable development (SD) aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This paper aims to examine the integration of SD in HEIs through the lens of AI and big data, identifying key challenges and highlighting opportunities for effective action from four institutional dimensions, namely technological, organizational, social and environmental. The methodology is based on bibliometric analyses and screening of relevant studies to identify connections on the integration of AI in HEIs toward SD, as well as exemplifying studies in building the foundation of discussions on the challenges and proposed solutions in this integration. Findings from bibliometric analyses, screening and review of literature show that despite the promising benefits and upward trend, integrating SD with AI and big data within HEIs remains complex, spanning across technological, organizational, social, and environmental dimensions. Addressing these multifaceted hurdles necessitates coordinated efforts and among educators, policymakers, and industries to align innovation with sustainability. This paper pinpoints critical obstacles and delivers strategic recommendations to facilitate the seamless adoption of AI‐driven sustainability practices in HEIs. It underscores the transformative potential of AI and big data to reshape institutional operations, drive systemic change, and foster long‐term positive outcomes in education.

Suggested Citation

  • Darren Yi Sern Low & Kar Ming Shaw & Poovarasi Balan, 2026. "Sustainable Development Integration in Higher Education Institutions: Challenges and Opportunities in the Age of AI and Big Data," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(2), pages 2386-2408, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:34:y:2026:i:2:p:2386-2408
    DOI: 10.1002/sd.70446
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.70446
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/sd.70446?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Diego Bonilla-Jurado & Ember Zumba & Araceli Lucio-Quintana & Carlos Yerbabuena-Torres & Andrea Ramírez-Casco & Cesar Guevara, 2024. "Advancing University Education: Exploring the Benefits of Education for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-27, September.
    2. Valery Okulich-Kazarin & Artem Artyukhov & Łukasz Skowron & Nadiia Artyukhova & Tomasz Wołowiec, 2024. "Will AI Become a Threat to Higher Education Sustainability? A Study of Students’ Views," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-19, May.
    3. Noran Shafik Fouad, 2021. "Securing higher education against cyberthreats: from an institutional risk to a national policy challenge," Journal of Cyber Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 6(2), pages 137-154, May.
    4. Leili Babashahi & Carlos Eduardo Barbosa & Yuri Lima & Alan Lyra & Herbert Salazar & Matheus Argôlo & Marcos Antonio de Almeida & Jano Moreira de Souza, 2024. "AI in the Workplace: A Systematic Review of Skill Transformation in the Industry," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-28, June.
    5. Bankole Osita Awuzie & Amal Abuzeinab, 2019. "Modelling Organisational Factors Influencing Sustainable Development Implementation Performance in Higher Education Institutions: An Interpretative Structural Modelling (ISM) Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(16), pages 1-18, August.
    6. Xiangfei Yuan & Haijing Hao & Chenghua Guan & Alex Pentland, 2022. "Which factors affect the performance of technology business incubators in China? An entrepreneurial ecosystem perspective," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(1), pages 1-20, January.
    7. Harisa Mardiana, 2024. "Perceived Impact of Lecturers’ Digital Literacy Skills in Higher Education Institutions," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(3), pages 21582440241, July.
    8. Sam M. Espinoza Vidaurre & Norma C. Velásquez Rodríguez & Renza L. Gambetta Quelopana & Ana N. Martinez Valdivia & Ernesto A. Leo Rossi & Marco A. Nolasco-Mamani, 2024. "Perceptions of Artificial Intelligence and Its Impact on Academic Integrity Among University Students in Peru and Chile: An Approach to Sustainable Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-24, October.
    9. Ricardo Vinuesa & Hossein Azizpour & Iolanda Leite & Madeline Balaam & Virginia Dignum & Sami Domisch & Anna Felländer & Simone Daniela Langhans & Max Tegmark & Francesco Fuso Nerini, 2020. "The role of artificial intelligence in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
    10. Temitayo Shenkoya & Euiseok Kim, 2023. "Sustainability in Higher Education: Digital Transformation of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Its Impact on Open Knowledge," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-16, January.
    11. Brooks Hanson & Shelley Stall & Joel Cutcher-Gershenfeld & Kristina Vrouwenvelder & Christopher Wirz & Yuhan (Douglas) Rao & Ge Peng, 2023. "Garbage in, garbage out: mitigating risks and maximizing benefits of AI in research," Nature, Nature, vol. 623(7985), pages 28-31, November.
    12. Ling Li, 2024. "Correction to: Reskilling and Upskilling the Future‑ready Workforce for Industry 4.0 and Beyond," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 26(5), pages 1713-1713, October.
    13. Gabriela Grosseck & Laurențiu Gabriel Țîru & Ramona Alice Bran, 2019. "Education for Sustainable Development: Evolution and Perspectives: A Bibliometric Review of Research, 1992–2018," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-35, November.
    14. Cottafava, Dario & Ascione, Grazia Sveva & Corazza, Laura & Dhir, Amandeep, 2022. "Sustainable development goals research in higher education institutions: An interdisciplinarity assessment through an entropy-based indicator," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 138-155.
    15. Walter Leal Filho & João Henrique Paulino Pires Eustachio & Andreea Corina Nita (Danila) & Maria Alzira Pimenta Dinis & Amanda Lange Salvia & Debby R. E. Cotton & Kamila Frizzo & Laís Viera Trevisan &, 2024. "Using data science for sustainable development in higher education," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(1), pages 15-28, February.
    16. Ling Li, 2024. "Reskilling and Upskilling the Future-ready Workforce for Industry 4.0 and Beyond," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 26(5), pages 1697-1712, October.
    17. Anjeela Jokhan & Aneesh A. Chand & Vineet Singh & Kabir A. Mamun, 2022. "Increased Digital Resource Consumption in Higher Educational Institutions and the Artificial Intelligence Role in Informing Decisions Related to Student Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-17, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Cheng-Wen Lee & Yuan-Chao Chi & Aileen Rachelle Aurelio Rabago, 2026. "Re-employment Willingness in Later Life: A Moderated Mediation Model of Employment Guidance in Taiwan," Advances in Management and Applied Economics, SCIENPRESS Ltd, vol. 16(2), pages 1-2.
    2. repec:bcp:journl:v:9:y:2025:i:10:p:4172-4186 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Antohi Valentin Marian & Fortea Costinela & Zlati Monica Laura, 2025. "Assessing The Impact Of The Energy Transition, The Integration Of Digital Technologies And The Promotion Of Financial Inclusion On Sustainable Growth Dynamics In The European Union," Annals - Economy Series, Constantin Brancusi University, Faculty of Economics, vol. 2, pages 72-89, April.
    4. Jamilah Laidin & Noor Zahirah Mohd Sidek, 2025. "The Role of Education in Mitigating Income Inequality: A Conceptual Framework," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(15), pages 906-916, July.
    5. Callari, Tiziana C. & Curzi, Ylenia & Lohse, Niels, 2025. "Realising human-robot collaboration in manufacturing? A journey towards industry 5.0 amid organisational paradoxical tensions," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 219(C).
    6. Dinesh Deckker & Subhashini Sumanasekara, 2025. "Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Job Security: A Narrative Review of Risks, Resilience, and Policy Responses," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(6), pages 4384-4407, June.
    7. Dr. Chris Daniel Wong & Dr. Nicole Foo & Dr. Stephen T. Homer & Dr. Chua Keng Soon & Dr. Soon Ee Hooi, 2025. "AI Unlocking the Potential of NGOs," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(7), pages 5184-5197, July.
    8. Henrik Skaug Sætra, 2021. "AI in Context and the Sustainable Development Goals: Factoring in the Unsustainability of the Sociotechnical System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-19, February.
    9. Nicola Andreij Rieg & Birgitta Gatersleben & Ian Christie, 2021. "Organizational Change Management for Sustainability in Higher Education Institutions: A Systematic Quantitative Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-18, June.
    10. Xi Liu & Yugang He & Renhong Wu, 2024. "Revolutionizing Environmental Sustainability: The Role of Renewable Energy Consumption and Environmental Technologies in OECD Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-21, January.
    11. Rafael Martínez-Peláez & Alberto Ochoa-Brust & Solange Rivera & Vanessa G. Félix & Rodolfo Ostos & Héctor Brito & Ramón A. Félix & Luis J. Mena, 2023. "Role of Digital Transformation for Achieving Sustainability: Mediated Role of Stakeholders, Key Capabilities, and Technology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-27, July.
    12. Jinyi Li & Zhen Liu & Guizhong Han & Peter Demian & Mohamed Osmani, 2024. "The Relationship Between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) Technologies for Sustainable Building in the Context of Smart Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-38, December.
    13. Gianluca MISURACA & Colin van Noordt, 2020. "AI Watch - Artificial Intelligence in public services: Overview of the use and impact of AI in public services in the EU," JRC Research Reports JRC120399, Joint Research Centre.
    14. Evangelos Katsamakas & Oleg V. Pavlov & Ryan Saklad, 2024. "Artificial intelligence and the transformation of higher education institutions," Papers 2402.08143, arXiv.org.
    15. Martins, Flavio Pinheiro & De-León Almaraz, Sofía & Botelho Junior, Amilton Barbosa & Azzaro-Pantel, Catherine & Parikh, Priti, 2024. "Hydrogen and the sustainable development goals: Synergies and trade-offs," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    16. Fabian Dvorak & Regina Stumpf & Sebastian Fehrler & Urs Fischbacher, 2024. "Generative AI Triggers Welfare-Reducing Decisions in Humans," Papers 2401.12773, arXiv.org.
    17. Ali Raza & Lu Hongliang & Tingyu Yang & Nian Wei, 2026. "The digital green revolution: computational framework for gender-inclusive ICT adoption and sustainable agricultural technology in Pakistan," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 14(1), pages 1-27, December.
    18. Sergio Genovesi & Julia Maria Mönig, 2022. "Acknowledging Sustainability in the Framework of Ethical Certification for AI," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-10, March.
    19. Tan Yigitcanlar & Rashid Mehmood & Juan M. Corchado, 2021. "Green Artificial Intelligence: Towards an Efficient, Sustainable and Equitable Technology for Smart Cities and Futures," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-14, August.
    20. Wang, Weilong & Xiao, Deheng & Wang, Jianlong & Wu, Haitao, 2024. "The cost of pollution in the digital era: Impediments of air pollution on enterprise digital transformation," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    21. M. Eshaq Stanikzai & Ella Mittal, 2025. "Leveraging AI-generated and human-generated content for maximized user engagement in contentpreneurs’ innovation and creativity," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 14(1), pages 1-28, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:34:y:2026:i:2:p:2386-2408. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1099-1719 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.