Green Institutional Governance and Sustainable Educational Development in Developing Nations

The growing global emphasis on sustainability has highlighted the critical role of green institutional governance in shaping the trajectory of educational development, particularly within developing nations. This study examines how policy implementation gaps in green governance frameworks influence sustainable development outcomes in tertiary institutions. Anchored on the principles of sustainable development and institutional theory, the research adopts a mixed methods approach that integrates quantitative survey data from 200 academic and administrative personnel across selected universities and polytechnics with qualitative insights from in depth interviews involving policymakers and institutional managers. Findings reveal that while most institutions have adopted sustainability policies in principle, significant gaps persist in implementation due to inadequate institutional capacity, weak policy enforcement mechanisms, limited stakeholder engagement, and insufficient funding. The study also identifies a disconnect between national green policy objectives and institutional level operational practices, leading to suboptimal environmental performance, resource inefficiencies, and missed opportunities for innovation in green education. The results underscore the need for coherent governance structures, capacity building initiatives, and effective monitoring frameworks to strengthen the institutionalization of green practices in higher education. The study contributes to the discourse on sustainable education by offering a model of Green Governance Alignment that links policy formulation, institutional practice, and educational outcomes in developing contexts. It concludes that closing the governance implementation gap is pivotal to achieving long term sustainability and resilience in tertiary education systems. Muhammed Adamu Obomeghie | Asekomhe Chris Oshiorenoya "Green Institutional Governance and Sustainable Educational Development in Developing Nations" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-9 | Issue-5 , October 2025, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd97647.pdf Paper URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/humanities-and-the-arts/education/97647/green-institutional-governance-and-sustainable-educational-development-in-developing-nations/muhammed-adamu-obomeghie