Journal of Marketing for Higher Education

This proposed special issue aims to explore the intersectionality of university ranking systems, sustainability initiatives, and marketing strategies in higher education. As universities face increasing pressure to excel in global rankings while also addressing sustainability challenges, there is a growing need to understand the implications of these dynamics on institutional marketing efforts. This special issue seeks to examine how universities navigate the complexities of ranking methodologies, integrate sustainability practices, and develop effective marketing strategies to enhance their competitiveness and reputation in the higher education landscape.

University rankings have become influential tools shaping perceptions of institutional quality and prestige (Marginson, 2014). However, criticisms of ranking methodologies have raised concerns about their impact on institutional priorities and practices (Hazelkorn, 2011). Concurrently, the imperative for sustainable development has emerged as a critical consideration for universities worldwide (Leal Filho et al., 2020). Sustainable practices not only align with institutional values but also contribute to long-term viability and societal impact (Disterheft et al., 2019). Moreover, effective marketing strategies are essential for universities to communicate their strengths, engage stakeholders, and attract students, faculty, and funding (Maringe & Foskett, 2012). This special issue seeks to explore how universities navigate these interconnected challenges and opportunities.

Potential Topics and Research Questions:

• Impact of sustainability initiatives on university ranking and reputation
• Integration of sustainability metrics into university ranking methodologies
• Integration of sustainability and/or ranking into marketing strategies
• Role of marketing in promoting sustainability initiatives in higher education
• Case studies of HEIs successfully leveraging sustainability for improved rankings and marketing outcomes
• Ethical considerations and methodological concerns in sustainability marketing
• Long-term effects of ranking-driven marketing strategies on institutional performance sustainability and resilience
• Strategies for communicating sustainability efforts to prospective students, donors, and other stakeholders
• Student engagement/integration/student-led projects in sustainability marketing in higher education.
• Regional and cultural variations and cross-cultural perspectives
• Role and effectiveness of social media and digital marketing on reputation management, institutional sustainability and competitiveness
• Theoretical frameworks and models for understanding the relationship between sustainability, ranking, and marketing in higher education

This special issue aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and empirical research on the complex interplay between university ranking systems, sustainability imperatives, and marketing strategies in higher education. By examining these dynamics, scholars can offer insights to inform strategic decision-making and enhance the overall effectiveness and sustainability of higher education institutions.

Key dates

Submission Deadline: [01/05/2025]

Expected Publication Date: [01/10/2025]

We encourage potential authors to contact the guest editors via their emails above to discuss their paper ideas prior to submission.

Types of papers

We encourage all submissions covering research from all types and mixed approaches.

Submission
Please select the title of this special issue when submitting your paper to the journal to allow considering it for this special issue.

Structure
Your paper should be compiled in the following order: title page; abstract; keywords; main text introduction, materials and methods, results, discussion; acknowledgments; declaration of interest statement; references; appendices (as appropriate); table(s) with caption(s) (on individual pages); figures; figure captions (as a list).

Word Limits
Please include a word count for your paper.
A typical paper for this journal should be no more than 8000 words.

Style Guidelines
When writing your research paper for this special issue, please follow the guidelines and formatting Journal of Marketing for Higher Education requires, and the template it recommends. This defines how your article will look when it is published online or in print.
Any spelling style is acceptable so long as it is consistent within the manuscript.
Please use single quotation marks, except where ‘a quotation is “within” a quotation’.
Please note that long quotations should be indented without quotation marks.

Formatting and Templates
Papers may be submitted in Word or LaTeX formats. Figures should be saved separately from the text. To assist you in preparing your paper, we provide formatting template(s).
Links to these templates are available on the journal website under the ‘Instructions for authors’ and ‘Preparing your paper’ sections.

References
Please use the reference style of the journal of marketing for higher education when preparing your paper for this special issue. An EndNote output style is also available to assist you on the journal website under the ‘Instructions for authors’ and ‘Preparing your paper’ sections.

 

 

Instructions for AuthorsSubmit an Article