The alignment of social science research with the sustainable development goals at an Indonesian university

Social science research is increasingly vital for localizing the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in higher education, yet institutional-level evidence from Indonesia remains scarce. This study examines the extent and patterns of SDG integration in the 2024 social science research portfolio at Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES). A mixed-methods analysis of 53 faculty research outputs combined quantitative SDG categorization with thematic coding of titles and abstracts. Findings show SDG 4 (Quality Education) dominates with 49.1% of studies, followed by SDG 11 (18.9%) and SDG 16 (17.0%), which together account for 85% of the portfolio. Four thematic clusters emerge: educational innovation, environmental sustainability, community empowerment, and cultural preservation, reflecting UNNES’s strategic focus on human development and local capacity-building. Despite meaningful SDG alignment, critical gaps remain in health (SDG 3), gender equality (SDG 5), and clean energy (SDG 7). This study offers a replicable framework for higher education institutions seeking to evaluate and enhance their contributions to sustainable development.