Sustainability in Information Systems’ Education: A Systematic Literature Review and Research Agenda
TL;DR
This study presents a Systematic Literature Review of peer-reviewed research published between 2019 and 2025, guided by PRISMA 2020 standards and employing Gioia, Corley and Hamilton (2013)'s thematic analysis framework.
Abstract
The integration of sustainability in Information Systems (IS) education has emerged as a strategic priority in Higher Education, driven by the urgent need to tackle environmental challenges and foster responsible digital transformation. Despite growing scholarly and institutional interest, the literature on this topic remains fragmented, lacking a unified pedagogical and theoretical foundation to guide effective integration processes. This study presents a Systematic Literature Review of peer-reviewed research published between 2019 and 2025, guided by PRISMA 2020 standards and employing Gioia, Corley and Hamilton (2013)’s thematic analysis framework. The review synthesises current approaches to embedding sustainability within IS education, identifying key thematic pillars and curricular strategies. The review identifies ongoing gaps in educator preparedness, conceptual clarity, and empirical validation. To address these challenges, a novel framework for integrating sustainability into IS programs is proposed, offering actionable guidance for curriculum designers, academic policymakers, and computing education researchers. This work contributes to the emerging discourse on sustainability-driven computing education and supports the development of pedagogical models aligned with global Sustainable Development Goals.