Bibliometric analysis on environmental responsibility in higher education institutions

Authors

  • Villardo Villegas-Ricauter Universidad Bolivariana del Ecuador image/svg+xml
  • Elia N. Cabrera Álvarez University of Cienfuegos image/svg+xml
  • Víctor Gómez Rodríguez Instituto Superior Tecnológico Urdesa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31637/epsir-2025-2415

Keywords:

Environmental responsibility, Higher education institutions, Environmental sustainability, Sustainable development, Environmental management, Climate change, Sustainability education, Bibliometric analysis

Abstract

Introduction: Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are key players in promoting environmental sustainability through teaching, research, and institutional management. Methodology: This study presents a bibliometric analysis of environmental responsibility (ER) in HEIs, based on publications indexed in Scopus between 1998 and 2024. A quantitative approach was used, with a descriptive and exploratory scope. The advanced search included terms related to "ER" and "environmental sustainability," analyzing a total of 377 publications using Biblioshiny tools and integrated Scopus functions. Results: The results show an annual growth of 17.47% in scientific production, with a notable increase starting in 2019. Topics such as sustainable development, environmental sustainability, and climate change dominate the research agenda. However, the low frequency of the term "environmental responsibility" indicates that it is implicitly addressed within the general approach to sustainability. Conclusion: It is concluded that open tools such as Bibliometrix enhance the transparency and replicability of the analysis. The study provides a current overview of the academic development of AR in HEIs, highlighting the need to consolidate its impact on global sustainability.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Adenle, Y. A., Abdul-Rahman, M. y Soyinka, O. A. (2022). Exploring the usage of social media in extant campus sustainability assessment frameworks for sustainable campus development. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 23(1), 135-158. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijshe-03-2021-0091 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-03-2021-0091

Adenle, Y. A., Chan, E. H. W., Sun, Y. y Chau, C. K. (2021). Assessing the relative importance of sustainability indicators for smart campuses: A case of higher education institutions in Nigeria. Environmental and Sustainability Indicators, 9, 100092. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indic.2020.100092 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indic.2020.100092

Amare, A. (2019). Corporate environmental responsibility in Ethiopia: A case study of the Akaki River Basin. Ecosystem Health and Sustainability, 5(1), 57-66. https://doi.org/10.1080/20964129.2019.1573107 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/20964129.2019.1573107

Araya-Pizarro, S. y Verelst, N. (2023). Astrotourism research landscape: A bibliometric analysis. Revista Interamericana de Ambiente y Turismo, 19(1), 75-89. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-235X2023000100075 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-235X2023000100075

Aria, M. y Cuccurullo, C. (2017). bibliometrix: An R-tool for comprehensive science mapping analysis. Journal of Informetrics, 11(4), 959-975. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joi.2017.08.007 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joi.2017.08.007

Bastidas, C. B. (2019). Information systems and technologies. [Sistemas y tecnologías de información] RISTI - Revista Iberica de Sistemas e Tecnologias de Informacao, 53. https://www.risti.xyz/issues/ristie53.pdf

Donthu, N., Kumar, S., Mukherjee, D., Pandey, N. y Lim, W. M. (2021). How to conduct a bibliometric analysis: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research, 133, 285-296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.04.070 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.04.070

Freeman, R. E. (with Internet Archive). (1984). Strategic management: A stakeholder approach. Pitman. http://archive.org/details/strategicmanagem00free

Gupta, J. y Arts, K. (2018a). Achieving the 1.5 °C objective: Just implementation through a right to (sustainable) development approach. International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, 18(1), 11-28. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10784-017-9376-7

Gupta, J. y Arts, K. (2018b). Achieving the 1.5 °C objective: Just implementation through a right to (sustainable) development approach. International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, 18(1), 11-28. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10784-017-9376-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10784-017-9376-7

Leal Filho, W., Coronado-Marín, A., Salvia, A. L., Silva, F. F., Wolf, F., LeVasseur, T., Kirrane, M. J., Doni, F., Paço, A., Blicharska, M., Schmitz, M., Grahl, A. T. y Moggi, S. (2022). International trends and practices on sustainability reporting in higher education institutions. Sustainability, 14(19). https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912238 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912238

Leal Filho, W., Shiel, C., Paço, A., Mifsud, M., Ávila, L. V., Brandli, L. L., Molthan-Hill, P., Pace, P., Azeiteiro, U. M., Vargas, V. R. y Caeiro, S. (2019). Sustainable Development Goals and sustainability teaching at universities: Falling behind or getting ahead of the pack? Journal of Cleaner Production, 232, 285-294. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.05.309 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.05.309

Leal Filho, W., Vargas, V. R., Salvia, A. L., Brandli, L. L., Pallant, E., Klavins, M., Ray, S., Moggi, S., Maruna, M., Conticelli, E., Ayanore, M. A., Radovic, V., Gupta, B., Sen, S., Paço, A., Michalopoulou, E., Saikim, F. H., Koh, H. L., Frankenberger, F. y Vaccari, M. (2019). The role of higher education institutions in sustainability initiatives at the local level. Journal of Cleaner Production, 233, 1004-1015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.06.059 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.06.059

Lemos, M. C. y Agrawal, A. (2006). Environmental Governance. Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 31(1), 297-325. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.energy.31.042605.135621 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.energy.31.042605.135621

Lončar, D., Paunković, J., Jovanović, V. y Krstić, V. (2019). Environmental and social responsibility of companies cross EU countries – Panel data analysis. Science of The Total Environment, 657, 287-296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.482 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.482

Lozano, R. (2006). A tool for a Graphical Assessment of Sustainability in Universities (GASU). Journal of Cleaner Production, 14(9-11), 963-972. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2005.11.041 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2005.11.041

Lozano, R., Barreiro-Gen, M., Lozano, F. J. y Sammalisto, K. (2019). Teaching Sustainability in European Higher Education Institutions: Assessing the Connections between Competences and Pedagogical Approaches. Sustainability, 11(6), 1602. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11061602 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su11061602

Lozano, R., Ceulemans, K., Alonso-Almeida, M., Huisingh, D., Lozano, F. J., Waas, T., Lambrechts, W., Lukman, R. y Hugé, J. (2015). A review of commitment and implementation of sustainable development in higher education: Results from a worldwide survey. Journal of Cleaner Production, 108, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.09.048 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.09.048

Rivera-Arroyo, J. K., Araya-Castillo, L., Ganga-Contreras, F. y Morales, F. S. (2021). Análisis bibliométrico de la investigación en calidad de servicio. Interciencia, 46(11). https://lc.cx/U0fKfF

UNESCO. (2017). Educación para los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible: Objetivos de aprendizaje—UNESCO. Biblioteca Digital. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000252423

Valera-Ramos, A. (2024). La responsabilidad ambiental como instrumento para potenciar la gobernanza adaptativa ante el cambio climático. Santiago, 164. https://santiago.uo.edu.cu/index.php/stgo/article/view/28720

Žalėnienė, I. y Pereira, P. (2021). Higher Education For Sustainability: A Global Perspective. Geography and Sustainability, 2(2), 99-106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geosus.2021.05.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geosus.2021.05.001

Published

2025-09-11

How to Cite

Villegas-Ricauter, V., Cabrera Álvarez, E. N., & Gómez Rodríguez, V. (2025). Bibliometric analysis on environmental responsibility in higher education institutions. European Public & Social Innovation Review, 10, 1–24. https://doi.org/10.31637/epsir-2025-2415

Issue

Section

MISCELLANEOUS