Drivers of Sustainability Performance in IndonesianPrivate Higher Education

Abstract

Higher education institutions play a strategic role in promoting sustainable development through education, research, community engagement, and institutional governance. However, the successful implementation of sustainability initiatives depends not only on environmental policies but also on internal organizational capabilities that foster sustainability-oriented values and practices among academic communities. The basic aim of this study is to investigates the influence of Green Internal
Marketing Orientation (GIMO), Green Authentic Leadership (GAL), and Green Organizational Culture
(GOC) on the sustainability performance of Indonesian private higher education institutions. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted involving 540 lecturers, administrative staff, and students from 90 private universities participating in the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings 2025, selected using proportionate stratified random sampling. Data were analysed using Covariance-Based Structural Equation Modelling (CB-SEM) with LISREL 10.2. The findings indicate that GIMO, GAL, and GOC each exert positive and significant effects on sustainability performance, while GOC partially mediates the relationships between GIMO and sustainability performance as well as between GAL and sustainability performance. This study extends the application of the Natural Resource-Based View within the higher education context and provides practical implications for university leaders seeking to promote sustainable governance and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).