INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE OF ESG GOVERNANCE MODELS IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR UZBEKISTAN

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The global diffusion of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into higher
education management has given rise to diverse institutional models across regional and
developmental contexts. This article presents a systematic comparative analysis of ESG
governance models in higher education institutions (HEIs) across four major global regions —
Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, and developing economies — with the purpose of
identifying transferable lessons for Uzbekistan's expanding HEI sector. Three principal ESG
governance typologies are delineated: Institutional (full strategic integration), Functional
(dedicated but partially integrated units), and Reactive (externally-driven, episodic compliance).
The European model, characterised by top-down institutional integration and strong normative
frameworks, is contrasted with the bottom-up, endowment-driven North American model and the
technology-intensive, state-led Asian model. Drawing on a community-level 15-year longitudinal
case study of Bukhara State University [3] and its validated Pentagonal Integral Model (PIM), the
article demonstrates how resource-constrained HEIs in Uzbekistan can leverage international
ranking participation (UI GreenMetric) as the optimal entry point for ESG adoption, following the
I→G→A→S→E activation sequence. International benchmarking systems (THE Impact
Rankings, UI GreenMetric, QS Sustainability, STARS) are compared for their methodological
relevance to Uzbekistan's institutional context. The article advances a hybrid ESG governance
model for Uzbekistan's HEIs, combining European institutional design principles, North American
community engagement practices, and Asian digital monitoring technologies.