Sustainable Education and Digital Transformation
Reawakening sustainable research practices in Nigerian higher education: A mediation analysis of innovative capacity
Usani Joseph Ofem 1 2 * , Esther Madukwe 2, Joy Adie 2, Asenath Ebaye 3
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1 De Oracle Research Foundations, Nigeria
2 University of Calabar, Nigeria
3 University of Cross River State, Nigeria
* Corresponding Author
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Sustainable Education and Digital Transformation, 2027 - Volume 2 Issue 2, Article No: e46161
https://doi.org/10.33902/SEDT.202646161

Article Type: Research Article

Published Online: 26 Sep 2026

Views: 137 | Downloads: 92

ABSTRACT
Sustainable research practices are increasingly important in higher education due to the growing global emphasis on environmental, social, and economic sustainability. This study examined the influence of environmental awareness, knowledge of ethical guidelines, and institutional culture on sustainable research practices, with innovative capacity serving as a mediating variable. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted, and data were collected from 1,411 valid respondents across selected higher education institutions. The data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM), while the measurement model was evaluated through reliability and validity assessments. The findings revealed that environmental awareness and knowledge of ethical guidelines significantly enhance sustainable research practices, whereas institutional culture provides an enabling environment that supports these relationships. Furthermore, innovative capacity significantly mediates the relationships between environmental awareness, ethical knowledge, and sustainable research practices, demonstrating its central role in promoting sustainability-oriented research behaviours. The study highlights the importance of strengthening institutional policies, fostering innovation, and enhancing sustainability awareness to improve sustainable research practices within higher education institutions. The findings provide practical implications for policymakers, university administrators, and researchers seeking to integrate sustainability principles into research systems and contribute to the growing body of knowledge on sustainable research in higher education.
KEYWORDS
environmental consciousness ethical guidelines higher education innovative capacity institutional culture PLS-SEM sustainable research practices
In-text citation: (Ofem et al., 2027)
Reference: Ofem, U. J., Madukwe, E., Adie, J., & Ebaye, A. (2027). Reawakening sustainable research practices in Nigerian higher education: A mediation analysis of innovative capacity. Sustainable Education and Digital Transformation, 2(2), e46161. https://doi.org/10.33902/SEDT.202646161
In-text citation: (1), (2), (3), etc.
Reference: Ofem UJ, Madukwe E, Adie J, Ebaye A. Reawakening sustainable research practices in Nigerian higher education: A mediation analysis of innovative capacity. Sustainable Education and Digital Transformation. 2027;2(2), e46161. https://doi.org/10.33902/SEDT.202646161
In-text citation: (1), (2), (3), etc.
Reference: Ofem UJ, Madukwe E, Adie J, Ebaye A. Reawakening sustainable research practices in Nigerian higher education: A mediation analysis of innovative capacity. Sustainable Education and Digital Transformation. 2027;2(2):e46161. https://doi.org/10.33902/SEDT.202646161
In-text citation: (Ofem et al., 2027)
Reference: Ofem, Usani Joseph, Esther Madukwe, Joy Adie, and Asenath Ebaye. "Reawakening sustainable research practices in Nigerian higher education: A mediation analysis of innovative capacity". Sustainable Education and Digital Transformation 2027 2 no. 2 (2027): e46161. https://doi.org/10.33902/SEDT.202646161
In-text citation: (Ofem et al., 2027)
Reference: Ofem, U. J., Madukwe, E., Adie, J., and Ebaye, A. (2027). Reawakening sustainable research practices in Nigerian higher education: A mediation analysis of innovative capacity. Sustainable Education and Digital Transformation, 2(2), e46161. https://doi.org/10.33902/SEDT.202646161
In-text citation: (Ofem et al., 2027)
Reference: Ofem, Usani Joseph et al. "Reawakening sustainable research practices in Nigerian higher education: A mediation analysis of innovative capacity". Sustainable Education and Digital Transformation, vol. 2, no. 2, 2027, e46161. https://doi.org/10.33902/SEDT.202646161
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