Business and management education for sustainability: A state-of-the-art review of literature post-UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2015–2023)

Abstract

Interest in business and management education for sustainability has steadily increased, yet no comprehensive research reviews have been conducted since the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. This study fills that gap by analyzing 365 Scopus-indexed documents using descriptive statistics, citation analysis, co-citation analysis, thematic analysis, and science mapping. The results reveal that although there is a growing number of studies, the body of knowledge remains underexplored and concentrated in economically developed regions. The field's intellectual structure is built around three distinct schools of thought: Responsible Management Education, Holistic Management Education, and Higher Education for Sustainable Development, all of which offer diverse yet cohesive perspectives on curriculum development, research, partnerships, and a strong commitment to social responsibility and sustainability. Major topics of interest include the Sustainable Development Goals, higher education, corporate social responsibility, and principles for sustainable management education. The study emphasizes the need for research from less developed regions, increased international collaboration, and a greater focus on emerging areas, such as supply chain management, climate change, and the impacts of COVID-19, to expand the field's relevance and address pressing global sustainability challenges.