Sustainable development strategies for smart sustainable campus operations: global trends, challenges and opportunities

Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) worldwide are increasingly adopting the Smart Sustainable Campus (SSC) model to drive sustainability across campus operations. This systematic literature review (SLR) critically examines global strategies, trends, challenges, and opportunities in SSC implementation, focusing on the five core operational domains: waste management, setting and infrastructure, energy management, water management, and sustainable mobility. Based on the PRISMA Flow Chart, the research examined 90 peer-reviewed publications dated 2015–2025, sourced from Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect and Emerald Insight. The findings indicated that, despite breakthroughs already made, notably in energy management and intelligent infrastructure, gaps remain in integrated frameworks, standardised metrics, and comprehensive policy approaches. Financial constraints, technological differences, policy fragmentation, and data privacy are among the challenges common in a developing context. Yet, recent technological advances, such as Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, blockchain, digital twins, cross-sector collaborations, and capacity-building efforts, offer a radically new possibility for SSC development. The study provides a detailed roadmap linking SSC operations to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), positioning HEIs as pivotal agents in building sustainable, resilient, and inclusive academic environments.