Assessing the implementation of sustainability principles in universities in Europe

Purpose This study aims to examine how European universities implement and communicate University Social Responsibility and Sustainable Development (USR/SD) principles. It introduces an original analytical framework and evaluation matrix to examine institutional strategies, structures, communication and reporting practices. Design/methodology/approach The research analyzes 130 universities from 39 European countries, selected based on participation in international USR/SD rankings. Using desk research and content analysis of HEIs’ documents and their English-language websites, the authors developed a 16-criterion matrix covering strategic approach, governance and reporting quality. Deductive analysis was conducted, and a comparative study of universities based on the obtained data for 2,080 cases was empirically verified and evaluated on a scale of 0–3 by expert cross-checking. Findings Results show substantial variation in the implementation of USR/SD. Only a few universities, mainly in the UK, Finland and Germany, demonstrated strategic integration and strong stakeholder engagement. Many institutions, especially in Central and Eastern Europe, lacked structured approaches, transparency or consistent communication. A gap was found between universities’ ranking visibility and declared commitment to USR/SD. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first cross-national assessments offering a structured, multidimensional analysis of USR/SD in European higher education. The study stresses the need for clear strategies, funding and transparent communication to enhance impact and stakeholder trust. Universities can use the framework to benchmark USR/SD efforts. Moreover, the proposed tool is replicable for comparative research and institutional self-assessment.