Educational Innovations for Sustainable Learning in Higher Education: A Systematic Literature Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55506/icdess.v3i1.122Keywords:
Educational Innovation, Sustainable Learning, Higher Education, Systematic Literature Review (SLR), Educational TechnologyAbstract
Higher education plays a vital role in supporting the social, economic, and cultural development of global societies. With the advancement of technology and increasing global demands, higher education institutions are required to continuously innovate in order to create relevant and sustainable learning experiences. This study aims to systematically review various educational innovations implemented in higher education to support sustainable learning. Using a PRISMA-based Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach, 37 articles published between 2020 and 2024 were analyzed. The study identified three main categories of educational innovation: curriculum innovation, instructional innovation, and educational technology innovation. Curriculum innovations include the integration of sustainability principles and the development of 21st-century skills. Instructional innovations involve active learning approaches and personalized learning technologies. Meanwhile, technological innovations focus on the use of AI, AR/VR, and digital learning platforms that enhance interactive and inclusive learning experiences. Despite challenges such as infrastructure gaps, limited faculty training, and unequal access to technology, this study highlights the importance of integrated and sustainable approaches in implementing educational innovations. It provides evidence-based recommendations for higher education institutions to develop more relevant, inclusive, and sustainable learning practices.
Downloads
References
Álvarez-Vanegas, A., Ramani, S. V., & Volante, L. (2024). Service-Learning as a niche innovation in higher education for sustainability. Frontiers in Education, 9(February), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2024.1291669 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2024.1291669
Antoniou, J. (2021). Quality of Experience and Emerging Technologies: Considering Features of 5G, IoT, Cloud and AI BT - Quality of Experience and Learning in Information Systems: Incorporating Learning and Ethics into Characterizations of Quality of Experience (J. Antoniou, Ed.; pp. 1–8). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-52559-0_1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-52559-0_1
Dede, C. (2014). Jobs for the future the role of digital technologies in deeper learning editors’ introduction to the deeper learning research series. The Role of Digital Tecnologies in Learning, December.
Denyer, D., & Tranfield, D. (2009). Producing a systematic review. In The Sage handbook of organizational research methods. (pp. 671–689). Sage Publications Ltd.
Fetters, M. L., & Duby, T. G. (2011). Faculty development: A stage model matched to blended learning maturation. Journal of Asynchronous Learning Network, 15(1), 77–86. https://doi.org/10.24059/olj.v15i1.186 DOI: https://doi.org/10.24059/olj.v15i1.186
Fidalgo-Blanco, A., Sein-Echaluce, M. L., & García-Pẽalvo, F. J. (2019). Impact indicators of educational innovations based on active methodologies. ACM International Conference Proceeding Series, 763–769. https://doi.org/10.1145/3362789.3362894 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3362789.3362894
Filho, W. L., Manolas, E., & Pace, P. (2015). The future we want key issues on sustainable development in higher education after rio and the un decade of education for sustainable development. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 16(1), 112–129. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-03-2014-0036 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-03-2014-0036
Findler, F., Schönherr, N., Lozano, R., Reider, D., & Martinuzzi, A. (2019). The impacts of higher education institutions on sustainable development: A review and conceptualization. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 20(1), 23–38. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-07-2017-0114 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-07-2017-0114
Ghory, S., & Ghafory, H. (2021). The impact of modern technology in the teaching and learning process. International Journal of Innovative Research and Scientific Studies, 4(3), 168–173. https://doi.org/10.53894/ijirss.v4i3.73 DOI: https://doi.org/10.53894/ijirss.v4i3.73
Ginting, R. T., Samosir, F. T., Majidah, & Putu Melati Widya Putri. (2023). YouTube as Digital Media Platform for Udayana University Students. Khizanah Al-Hikmah : Jurnal Ilmu Perpustakaan, Informasi, Dan Kearsipan, 11(1), 53–62. https://doi.org/10.24252/kah.v11i1a6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.24252/kah.v11i1a6
Kohl, K., Hopkins, C., Barth, M., Michelsen, G., Dlouhá, J., Razak, D. A., Abidin Bin Sanusi, Z., & Toman, I. (2022). A whole-institution approach towards sustainability: a crucial aspect of higher education’s individual and collective engagement with the SDGs and beyond. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 23(2), 218–236. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-10-2020-0398 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-10-2020-0398
Leal Filho, W., Salvia, A. L., & Eustachio, J. H. P. P. (2023). An overview of the engagement of higher education institutions in the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Journal of Cleaner Production, 386(December 2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.135694 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.135694
Lozano, R., Ceulemans, K., Alonso-Almeida, M., Huisingh, D., Lozano, F. J., Waas, T., Lambrechts, W., Lukman, R., & 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
Maspul, K. A. (2024). Discovering the Underlying Motivations for Empowering Education Through Innovation. Journal of Information System and Education Development, 2(1), 27–32. https://doi.org/10.62386/jised.v2i1.58 DOI: https://doi.org/10.62386/jised.v2i1.58
Milala, S. I., Ibrahim, R., Ariffin, K. M., Rejab, M. M., Jamel, S., & Razzaq, A. R. A. (2025). Advances in Educational Technologies Shaping the Future: A Scopic Review and Survey Analysis to Determinant of TVET Foundation Program Choice. International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology, 73(1), 104–119. https://doi.org/10.14445/22315381/IJETT-V73I1P109= DOI: https://doi.org/10.14445/22315381/IJETT-V73I1P109
Miró-Colmenárez, P. J., Durán-Alonso, S., Díaz-Cruces, E., & Zamora-Ledezma, C. (2025). Enhancing University Teaching Through Student-Led Review Articles as a Pathway to Early Research Engagement. Education Sciences, 15(2), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15020249 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15020249
Mok, K. H., Welch, A., & Kang, Y. (2020). Government innovation policy and higher education: the case of Shenzhen, China. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 42(2), 194–212. https://doi.org/10.1080/1360080X.2019.1701851 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1360080X.2019.1701851
OECD. (2016). Digitalisation, digital practices and digital skills. https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264265097-4-en DOI: https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264265097-4-en
Pati, D., & Lorusso, L. N. (2018). How to Write a Systematic Review of the Literature. Health Environments Research and Design Journal, 11(1), 15–30. https://doi.org/10.1177/1937586717747384 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1937586717747384
Ramsey, P., Franklin, T., Ramsey, D., & Wells, R. (2002). Rethinking grades for sustainable learning. Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 39(2), 117–123. https://doi.org/10.1080/14703290252934568 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14703290252934568
Schophuizen, M., Kelly, A., Utama, C., Specht, M., & Kalz, M. (2022). Enabling educational innovation through complexity leadership? Perspec tives from four Dutch universities. Tertiary Education and Management, 29(4), 471–490. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11233-022-09105-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11233-022-09105-8
Serdyukov, P. (2017). Innovation in education: what works, what doesn’t, and what to do about it? Journal of Research in Innovative Teaching & Learning, 10(1), 4–33. https://doi.org/10.1108/jrit-10-2016-0007 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JRIT-10-2016-0007
Shishakly, R., Almaiah, M. A., Lutfi, A., & Alrawad, M. (2024). The influence of using smart technologies for sustainable development in higher education institutions. International Journal of Data and Network Science, 8(1), 77–90. https://doi.org/10.5267/j.ijdns.2023.10.015 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5267/j.ijdns.2023.10.015
Sterling, S. (2004). Higher Education and the Challenge of Sustainability. Higher Education and the Challenge of Sustainability, May, 0–21. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-48515-x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-48515-X
Tilbury, D. (2011). Education for sustainable development: An expert review of processes and learning. Unesco, October 2011, 132. http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&btnG=Search&q=intitle:Education+for+sustainable+development+An+expert+review+of+processes+and+learning#0
Ujeyo Suubi, M. (2021). Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Higher Education (pp. 986–1002). https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-3438-0.ch045 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-3438-0.ch045
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Ali Mujahidin, Budi Irawanto, Rika Pristian Fitri Astuti

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

