Collaborative governance in environmental education: Systematic literature review on enhancing school-community partnerships for sustainable development
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61511/gg.v3i1.2026.3151Keywords:
collaborative governance, environmental education, sustainable developmentAbstract
Background: The framework of Collaborative Governance in Environmental Education (EE) has gained increasing attention in recent years, especially in the context of sustainable development. However, the literature on this topic is still limited, so a deep understanding of how school-community partnerships can improve the effectiveness of EE programs has not been fully explained. This study aims to explore the dynamics of Collaborative Governance between schools and communities by identifying the challenges, strategies, and key outcomes that contribute to sustainable environmental education practices. Method: This study uses a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) by synthesizing empirical and conceptual findings from five relevant journal articles published between 2019 and 2025 through the Scopus database. The results of the analysis show that collaboration between schools, local governments, and civil society organizations plays an important role in fostering a culture of sustainability in the educational environment. The findings also revealed that although collaborative efforts can strengthen trust-building, joint decision-making, and mutual accountability, their implementation is still constrained by limited resources, weak coordination, and suboptimal policy support. Furthermore, this study emphasizes the importance of institutional commitment and continuous professional development for educators to maintain the sustainability of EE programs. Conclusion: The results of this study are consistent with the theory of Collaborative Governance, which emphasizes interdependence and shared responsibility among stakeholders in creating public value. This study concludes that Collaborative Governance functions not only as a coordination mechanism, but also as a transformative process that builds collective trust and empowers schools as agents of sustainable change. Novelty/Originality of this article: This study contributes through a systematic mapping of the intersection between Collaborative Governance and Environmental Education, and offers integrative conceptual insights that support the development of a Collaborative Environmental Education Framework that is aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) points 4 and 13.
References
Al-Balushi, A., Ramadan, E., Zakaria, S., & Dairi, H. Al. (2022). Attitudes towards Green Economy Concerns among Higher Education Students in Oman. American Journal of Climate Change, 11(04). https://doi.org/10.4236/ajcc.2022.114016
Ansell, C., & Gash, A. (2008). Collaborative Governance in Theory and Practice. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 18(4), 543–571. https://doi.org/10.1093/jopart/mum032
Arici, H. E., & Uysal, M. (2022). Leadership, green innovation, and green creativity: a systematic review. The Service Industries Journal, 42(5–6), 280–320. https://doi.org/10.1080/02642069.2021.1964482
Ariza, M. R., Boeve-de Pauw, J., Olsson, D., Van Petegem, P., Parra, G., & Gericke, N. (2021). Promoting Environmental Citizenship in Education: The Potential of the Sustainability Consciousness Questionnaire to Measure Impact of Interventions. Sustainability, 13(20), 11420. https://doi.org/10.3390/su132011420
Asaduzzaman, M., & Virtanen, P. (2020). Partnership and Capacity Building of Local Governance. Partnerships for the Goals. 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71067-9_21-1
Asaloei, S. I., Wolomasi, A. K., & Werang, B. R. (2020). Work-Related Stress and Performance Among Primary School Teachers. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education (Ijere), 9(2), 352. https://doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v9i2.20335
Carrera-Rivera, A., Ochoa, W., Larrinaga, F., & Lasa, G. (2022). How-to conduct a systematic literature review: A quick guide for computer science research. MethodsX, 9, 101895. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mex.2022.101895
Chao, Y.-L. (2024). Different tracks, same greenness? Environmental literacy models integrated with teachers’ environmental education practices for academic vs. technical/vocational high school students. Cogent Education, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2024.2357922
Dagamac, A. N. H., & Darmawan, M. D. (2021). Situation of Environmental Education in Senior High School Programs in Indonesia: Perspectives From the Teachers of Palembang. Interdisciplinary Journal of Environmental and Science Education. https://doi.org/10.21601/ijese/9605
Damoah, B. (2023). Reimagining Climate Change Education as a Panacea to Climate Emergencies. International Journal of Environmental Sustainability and Social Science, 4(4), 977–987. https://doi.org/10.38142/ijesss.v4i4.590
Darmasetiawan, N. K., & Santoso, H. W. (2022). Collaborative Strategy to Maintain Sinona Indonesia’s Financial and Operational Sustainability in the New Normal Era. Proceedings of the 19th International Symposium on Management (INSYMA 2022), 287–294. https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-008-4_38
Darumurti, A. (2022). Increasing the Role of Non-State Actors in Collaborative Governance. Proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Innovation on Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences (ICOSI-HESS 2022), 743–753. https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-494069-65-7_60
Emerson, K., & Gerlak, A. K. (2014). Adaptation in Collaborative Governance Regimes. Environmental Management, 54(4). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-014-0334-7
Emerson, K., & Nabatchi, T. (2015). Collaborative Governance Regimes. Educacao e Sociedade, 1(1). http://www.biblioteca.pucminas.br/teses/Educacao_PereiraAS_1.pdf%0A
Emerson, K., Nabatchi, T., & Balogh, S. (2012). An integrative framework for collaborative governance. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1093/jopart/mur011
Esteban, T. A. O. (2020). Building Resilience Through Collective Engagement. Architecture_mps, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.14324/111.444.amps.2020v17i1.001
Fitriati, R., & Nuralam, I. P. (2019). Joint Responsibility: A Trap in Managing Social Security Agency for Healthcare Social Funds? https://doi.org/10.2991/aicobpa-18.2019.40
Fox, R., & Thomas, G. (2022). Is Climate Change the ‘Elephant in the Room’ for Outdoor Environmental Education? Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42322-022-00119-9
Gani, S. A., Yusuf, Y. Q., & Yusuf, R. (2023). Implementing the disaster education program at an elementary school in the devastating tsunami affected area: A case study in Aceh, Indonesia. Kasetsart Journal of Social Sciences, 44(3), 947–958. https://doi.org/10.34044/j.kjss.2023.44.3.33
Greer, K., Walshe, N., Kitson, A., & Dillon, J. (2023). Responding to the Environmental Crisis Through Education: The Imperative for Teacher Support Across All Disciplines. UCL PRESS: UCL Open Environment. https://doi.org/10.14324/111.444/000211.v1
Grüb, B., & Martin, S. (2018). Evaluating Communication as an Essential Precondition for Inter-Organisational Learning in Governance Networks – The Case of the Healthy Cities Network in Germany. Health Services Management Research, 32(3), 130–145. https://doi.org/10.1177/0951484818816417
Harzing, A. W., & Alakangas, S. (2016). Google Scholar, Scopus and the Web of Science: a longitudinal and cross-disciplinary comparison. Scientometrics, 106(2). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-015-1798-9
Heilmayr, R., & Lambin, É. F. (2016). Impacts of Nonstate, Market-Driven Governance on Chilean Forests. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 113(11), 2910–2915. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1600394113
Herliana, P., & Suriansyah, A. (2025). Green leadership and environmental awareness growing with Indonesia’s Adiwiyata Program at a Kotabaru school. Issues in Educational Research, 35(3). https://www.iier.org.au/iier35/herliana.pdf
Husin, A., Helmi, H., Nengsih, Y. K., & Rendana, M. (2025). Environmental education in schools: sustainability and hope. Discover Sustainability, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-00837-2
Ibrahim, Syamsidik, Azmeri, Hasan, M., Irwansyah, A., & Al Farizi, M. D. (2023). Assessing tsunami vertical evacuation processes based on probabilistic tsunami hazard assessment for west coast of Aceh Besar, Indonesia. Geoenvironmental Disasters, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40677-023-00238-5
Irwansyah, M. R., Rustini, N. K. A., Wulandari, P. R., Yasa, I. N. M., & Saskara, I. A. N. (2023). Analysis of Sustainability of Bamboo Handicrafts: Investigation of Welfare and Its Supporting Variables. E3s Web of Conferences, 440, 7001. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202344007001
Johanis Rumambi, F. (2024). Dynamics of Leaders in Indonesia’s Environmental Sustainability. Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Teknologi, 5(5), 2042–2053. https://doi.org/10.59141/jist.v5i5.993
Kagungan, D., Duadji, N., & Meutia, I. F. (2021). Pentahelix Model Collaboration in Tourism Industry Development Policy in Pesawaran Regency. Proceedings of the 2nd International Indonesia Conference on Interdisciplinary Studies (IICIS 2021). https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.211206.041
Kim, S. (2016). The Workings of Collaborative Governance: Evaluating Collaborative Community-Building Initiatives in Korea. Urban Studies, 53(16), 3547–3565. https://doi.org/10.1177/0042098015613235
Kraft, B., & Wolf, S. A. (2016). Through the Lens of Accountability: Analyzing Legitimacy in Environmental Governance. Organization & Environment, 31(1), 70–92. https://doi.org/10.1177/1086026616680682
Libelo, H., & Tracy, S. (2022). Establishing a Relationship Between Demographic Factors and Students’ Environmental Awareness. Journal of Student Research. https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v11i1.2282
Mammadova, A., Редькин, А. Г., Akimova, T., & Smith, C. (2022). Community Engagement in UNESCO Biosphere Reserves and Geoparks: Case Studies From Mount Hakusan in Japan and Altai in Russia. Land, 11(2), 227. https://doi.org/10.3390/land11020227
Miles, M., Schindel, A., Haq, K., & Aziz, T. (2025). Advancing environmental justice education: a critical review of research and practice. Environmental Education Research, 31(7), 1461–1480. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2025.2483443
Mochizuki, Y., & Bryan, A. (2015). Climate Change Education in the Context of Education for Sustainable Development: Rationale and Principles. Journal of Education for Sustainable Development, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/0973408215569109
Muryani, C., Sarwono, S., Tjahjono, G. A., & Nugraha, S. (2022). Evaluation of Safe School Readiness for Landslide in Tawangmangu and Matesih District, Karanganyar Regency, Indonesia, the Year 2021. Iop Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science, 986(1), 12009. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/986/1/012009
Nankya, H., Mathews, D., Ferryman, K., Kane, O., & Ali, J. (2025). Community Engagement for Artificial Intelligence Health Research in Africa. Wellcome Open Research, 10, 158. https://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.23684.1
Nepraš, K., Strejčková, T., Kroufek, R., & Kubiatko, M. (2023). Climate Change Attitudes, Relationship to Nature and Pro-Environmental Behaviour of Students From Three European Countries. Journal of Baltic Science Education. https://doi.org/10.33225/jbse/23.22.309
Newig, J., Challies, E., Jager, N. W., Kochskaemper, E., & Adzersen, A. (2018). The Environmental Performance of Participatory and Collaborative Governance: A Framework of Causal Mechanisms. Policy Studies Journal, 46(2), 269–297. https://doi.org/10.1111/psj.12209
Nugraha, S., Tjahjono, G. A., Saputri, A. B., Hidayati, D. N., & Rahmaningrum, A. R. (2025). Land Suitability for Settlements and Community Attitude Patterns in Landslide Vulnerable Areas in Ngargoyoso District Year 2024. Iop Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science, 1462(1), 12069. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1462/1/012069
Nurani, F., & Wike, W. (2021). Building Collaborative Governance on Services Delivery for Children. 191. https://doi.org/10.2991/aebmr.k.210928.089
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., … Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. In BMJ (Vol. 372). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71
Pranckutė, R. (2021). Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus: the titans of bibliographic information in today’s academic world. Publications, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/publications9010012
Prasetiyo, W. H., Ishak, N. A., Basit, A., & Dewantara, J. A. (2020.). Caring for the environment in an inclusive school: The Adiwiyata Green School program in Indonesia. Issues in Educational Research, 30(3). https://www.iier.org.au/iier30/prasetiyo.pdf
Prasetiyo, W. H., Ishak, N. A., Basit, A., Dewantara, J. A., Hidayat, O. T., Casmana, A. R., & Muhibbin, A. (2020). Caring for the environment in an inclusive school: The adiwiyata green school program in indonesia. Issues in Educational Research, 30(3), 1040–1057. https://iier.org.au/iier30/prasetiyo-abs.html
Prihantoro, C. R. (2014). The Perspective of Curriculum in Indonesia on Environmental Education. International Journal of Research Studies in Education. https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrse.2014.915
Pringadi, R., Mesiono, M., Rafiqah, S. R., Manurung, W., Azmar, A., & Hendriyal, H. (2023). Principal’s Strategy in Implementing Organizational Communication at Madrasah Ibtidaiyah. Jurnal Basicedu, 7(1), 955–963. https://doi.org/10.31004/basicedu.v7i1.4702
Rahmayanti, H., Soesilo, T. E. B., Sari, D. A. P., Ichsan, I. Z., Kurniawan, E., Titin, T., Dasmo, Hermawati, F. M., Singh, C. K. S., Rogayan, D. V, & Rahman, M. M. (2021). Analysis of Disaster Mitigation in Carita With Environmental Learning in Elementary School. Iop Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science, 940(1), 12001. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/940/1/012001
Rosita, T., & Kurniatun, T. C. (2025). Bridging Vision and Reality: Examining Strategic Planning Implementation in Indonesian State Schools. Educational Process: International Journal, 15. https://doi.org/10.22521/edupij.2025.15.177
Roswita, W. (2020). Adiwiyata-program-based school management model can create environment-oriented school. Journal of Management Development, 39(2), 181–195. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMD-01-2019-0005
Samanlangi, I., Yusuf, R., Ilwandri, Fantoni, & Adikarya, W. S. (2024). Mining Conflict and Sustainable Development: A Review of Case Studies and Theoretical Framework. Ijeet, 2(2), 198–204. https://doi.org/10.61991/ijeet.v2i2.37
Soriano, S., Castañaga, M., Guevara, N. L., Tan, R., Lambinicio, J., Villaluna, M., & Ramirez, N. (2024). Unveiling the Environmental Education Dilemma: Analyzing Educators Perspectives and Practices in Environmental Citizenship for Global Sustainability. International Journal of Biosciences (Ijb). https://doi.org/10.12692/ijb/24.03.68-75
UNESCO. (2021). Bridging Asia-Pacific Education Monitoring Frameworks and SDG 4 Bridging Asia-Pacific Education Monitoring Frameworks and SDG 4. UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Velasco Martínez, L. C., Martín-Jaime, J.-J., Estrada-Vidal, L.-I., & Tójar Hurtado, J. C. (2020). Environmental Education to Change the Consumption Model and Curb Climate Change. Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12187475
Wals, A. E. J., & Benavot, A. (2017). Can we meet the sustainability challenges? The role of education and lifelong learning. European Journal of Education, 52(4). https://doi.org/10.1111/ejed.12250
Widiyarta, A., & Kriswibowo, A. (2023). Collaborative Governance Process by Disaster Resilient Villages (DESTANA) to Improve Performance. East Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 2(12), 4949–4960. https://doi.org/10.55927/eajmr.v2i12.6899
Wullur, M. M., & Werang, B. R. (2020). Emotional Exhaustion and Organizational Commitment: Primary School Teachers’ Perspective. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education (Ijere), 9(4), 912. https://doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v9i4.20727
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Citation Check
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Putri Adibatur Rohmah, Ramdani Salam, Rahim Achmad
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
