The role of sustainability in shaping university academic performance: insights from UI GreenMetric and THE world university rankings

Purpose – This study aims to analyse the effect of sustainability performance on academic achievement within higher education institutions. This study also contributes to the literature by examining the direct and indirect impacts of university sustainability performance on academic achievement, while controlling for structural factors such as campus size and population. Design/methodology/approach – This study used a quantitative method to assess university performance using Times Higher Education rankings and sustainability using six Universitas Indonesia (UI) GreenMetric indicators. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the impact, controlling for campus size and student population. Findings – The findings show that the UI GreenMetric sub-dimensions exhibit positive, significant correlations with academic performance. The analyses revealed that the strongest predictors of academic performance are “energy and climate change” and “sustainability-oriented education”. Furthermore, the findings show that sustainability practices positively affect academic performance, with this effect maximised especially on medium-sized campuses. Originality/value – The study provides empirical evidence demonstrating how sustainability strategies create strategic value for academic visibility and competitiveness. The study also offers practical recommendations for university leaders and policymakers to develop sustainable, future-oriented strategy.