Modeling Filipino Educators’ Intentions to Integrate Sustainability Topics in Higher Education Using a Hybrid SEM–ANN

Integrating sustainability into higher education isessential for preparing graduates to address complex global challenges. This study investigates the factors shaping Filipino educators’ intentions to embed sustainability topics into their teaching. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior and Social Cognitive Theory, a hybrid analytical approach combining Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) was applied to survey data from 210 higher education faculty members. The findings indicate that educators’ intentions are primarily driven by perceived behavioral control, self-efficacy, faculty development, interdisciplinary course design, and institutional support. SEM results confirm the theoretical relationships among psychological and institutional factors, while ANN analysis highlights the strong predictive importance of professional development and pedagogical practices. The study contributes an empirically validated framework that explains how individual confidence, organizational support, and curriculum structures jointly shape sustainability integration in higher education. The results offer actionable insights for academic leaders and policymakers seeking to strengthen faculty capacity, embed sustainability across disciplines, and advance Education for Sustainable Development initiatives aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.