Sustainable campus liveability in residential technical institutions: a quantitative framework supporting the UN SDGs

Purpose This study aims to develop and empirically validate a context-specific framework for assessing campus liveability in Indian residential technical institutions. The framework was designed to advance sustainable development in higher education, directly supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), 4 (Quality Education) and 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Design/methodology/approach A mixed-methods research design was adopted, combining a Delphi process, survey-based data collection across three leading Indian technical campuses and advanced quantitative analysis. A factor structure was established through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and user priorities were identified using an importance–satisfaction analysis. Findings Seven key dimensions of campus liveability were confirmed: residential quality, sociocultural vibrancy, support services, safety and security, amenities, environmental quality and accessibility/mobility. Significant gaps were identified in residential quality and essential services, highlighting critical areas for improvement to enhance student and staff wellbeing. Research limitations/implications The scope of the study was limited to three South Indian technical institutions and relied on self-reported survey data, which may introduce perceptual bias. Future research should expand geographically and integrate objective measures to broaden generalisability. Practical implications The validated framework offers a practical tool for campus administrators and policymakers to systematically evaluate and improve liveability. Social implications It enables evidence-based prioritisation of interventions that directly support student experience and institutional sustainability. Originality/value This work bridges a critical gap by delivering empirically validated SDG-aligned framework tailored for technical university campuses in India, supporting both theoretical advances and operational decision-making in sustainable higher education.