How Brazilian Public Universities Are Operationalizing The SDGs: Strategic Plans Analysis

ABSTRACT

Despite the importance of universities for Sustainable Development, only a handful of studies have evaluated the implementation levels of SDGs in HEIs in Latin America. To fill this void, this study examines the strategic plans of 70 Brazilian public universities, which account for 92.8% of Federal Universities. An adapted version of the THE Impact Ranking (THE IR) indicators was used, along with content analysis, to map SDGs policies and actions. Qualitative and quantitative analyses through the KH Coder software were applied, amplifying the analysis. The results suggest that specific characteristics of strategic plans and their regional roots do not significantly influence the outcomes related to SDG implementation. The most actively reported SDGs are SDG 3 (Good Health and Well‐being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). Associated policies and actions focus on undergraduate, graduate, and medical residency programs (SDG 3); teacher education and professional development (SDG 4); and academic and industrial research (SDG 9). The study also indicates that, compared with environmental factors, the social and economic dimensions are more emphasized in sustainability, accounting for 72.8% of all policies and actions planned, while the majority of sustainability activities target students. It lists some SDG‐aligned activities in Brazilian HEIs and presents a practical tool for benchmarking that may assist researchers and university executives in SDGs strategic adoption and evaluation towards SDG commitments. The study points to the necessity of aligning strategic priorities with the effective planning of policies and actions, and diversification of stakeholders identification.