Sustainability Strategy and Environmental Performance at Private Universities in East Java

This study investigates the relationship between sustainability strategies and environmental performance in private universities in East Java, with a particular focus on their contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Three strategies are examined: green curriculum, Environmental Management Systems (EMS), and sustainable research programs. A quantitative research design using Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modeling (SEM-PLS) was applied to data collected from 40 accredited private universities. The findings reveal that only sustainable research programs have a positive and significant effect on institutional and environmental performance (T = 6.7; p < 0.001), while green curriculum and EMS show no statistically significant direct effects. However, all three strategies collectively explain 91.6% of the variance in university performance (R2 = 0.916). Environmental performance indicators such as energy efficiency, waste management, carbon footprint reduction, and resource conservation illustrate how universities operationalize sustainability commitments. These strategies align with SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). The results highlight the strategic role of private universities as drivers of environmental sustainability and emphasize the need for stronger integration of education, management, and research to maximize sustainability outcomes.