Non-financial Reporting and SDGs: Advancing Sustainability in Higher Education Institutions Through Measuring and Reporting

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are increasingly acknowledged as relevant for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily through teaching, research, and third mission activities. Non-financial reporting has emerged as a communication tool for providing a detailed disclosure of HEIs’ efforts to achieve the SDGs. Existing literature underscores how its adoption not only enhances legitimacy and stakeholder engagement, but also supports decision-making, promoting future actions aimed at achieving the SDGs. However, the extent to which HEIs may leverage non-financial reporting to integrate SDGs into their core organizational processes and strategies remains not adequately explored. The aim of this study is to explore if and how the adoption of non-financial reporting may support the integration of SDGs within HEIs. To achieve this aim, the research relies on an in-depth longitudinal case study of an Italian university which has been adopting a non-financial reporting—and more specifically an Integrated Report (IFRS Foundation, 2022)—since 2020. Findings suggest that the adoption of the non-financial reporting influences the integration of SDGs within HEIs, as it facilitates the shift from mere disclosure to the effective definition of actions and indicators through the explicit formalization of the link between the University’s actions and their impact on SDGs. The study contributes to the ongoing debate on the role of HEIs in sustainable development, by exploring the role of non-financial reporting in mobilizing efforts to integrate SDGs into strategic and organizational practices. The non-financial reporting emerges as a tool to bridge the gap between disclosure and the execution of SDGs-oriented initiatives.