DEVELOPING STRATEGIC PERFORMANCE IN UNIVERSITIES IN LIGHT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Abstract

The​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ paper explores the evolution of strategic performance management in universities in relation to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Besides reviewing the relevant literature, the paper also empirically analyzes the role of the university sector in the implementation of global sustainability objectives through the measurement of social performance. The research relies on a descriptive-analytical methodology and investigates four major areas that include: internal processes, stakeholder satisfaction, financial aspects, and organizational learning and growth.

The survey of 40 academic leaders at King Khalid University reveals excellent performance of the internal operations (M=3.73, SD=0.66) and stakeholder satisfaction (M=3.52, SD=0.74), satisfactory performance of learning and growth (M=3.37, SD=0.66), and good performance of financial management (M=3.60, SD=0.82).

The authors of this paper offer an integrated strategic model that merges the Balanced Scorecard concept with the SDG indicators to provide a set of feasible solutions for the advancement of universities' performance in line with the global sustainability commitments. This piece of writing serves as a bridge to the gap existing between strategic performance management on the one hand, and sustainability implementation in higher education institutions on the other.