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ESG education at Russian universities. Education & Pedagogy Journal. 2025;3(15):5-28. DOI:

The successful implementation of the concept of sustainable development depends on the active participation of all sectors of society in all spheres of human activity, in which education plays a crucial role. Universities are of particular importance as they contribute to the establishment and integration of higher education in the field of sustainable development based on ESG principles – in other words, they work in the environmental (E), social (S), and governance (G) spheres of sustainable development. Since 2015, Russian universities have been developing their sustainability strategies and modifying their organizational structures to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (hereafter referred to as SDGs). Russian higher education institutions have also gained experience in implementing educational programs designed to develop competencies for professionals in the field of sustainable development. This comparative analysis examines Bachelor’s, Master’s, postgraduate, and continuing education programs in fields such as economics, management, public and local administration, law, and environmental studies. The study found that the foundations for Education for Sustainable Development (hereafter ESD) were laid in Russia in the 1990s, but have only become a widespread phenomenon in the last five years. In the early stages, the leading universities, particularly in Moscow and St. Petersburg, were the most active participants. Currently, the number of Master’s programs is increasing, and the share of regional universities in implementing these programs has risen significantly in recent years, accounting for 40–45%.

Keywords: university, higher education institutions, higher education, ESG education, education for sustainable development, Sustainable Development Goals