Creating an Integrative Sustainability Framework for Higher Education in Malaysia: Economic, Environment, Social and Governance (EESG) Aspects

The purpose of this study is to investigate how the Economic, Environment, Social and Governance (EESG) framework for sustainability has been ingrained in a higher institution in Malaysia. Using an interpretive, qualitative approach and a case study, five branches of the HEI in question, were studied for their alignment with the UN 17 SDGs using semi structured interviews and document analysis. The raw data were generated using the MAXQDA software and analysed accordingly. The investigation uncovered that the HEI had effectively pursued most of the SDGs. From a social sustainability standpoint, the university had diligently attended to the welfare and well-being of its students and staff, underscored the significance of maintaining an environmental agenda, and had an excellent governance policy. The economic lens had garnered heightened attention from middle-to the upper-level management. As a whole system, this study has translated into a resilient financial foundation for the institution. Consequently, the study's conclusive findings and subsequent hypothesised model, could potentially serve as a guiding reference for other educational institutions despite the inherent limitations associated with its applicability. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case study that investigated a private non-profit university in an emerging market.