Sustainable financing of higher education to strengthen quality, equity, and institutional innovation
Abstract
Sustainable financing has become a strategic factor for ensuring the development of higher education institutions in a context characterized by increasing demands for quality, equity, and innovation. The objective of this study was to analyze the importance of sustainable financing in higher education as a strategy to strengthen academic quality, promote equity, and foster institutional innovation based on available scientific evidence. The research adopted a qualitative approach through a descriptive-analytical documentary review. A systematic search was conducted in the Scopus, Web of Science, SciELO, Redalyc, and Google Scholar databases, applying inclusion and exclusion criteria to select scientific publications published mainly between 2019 and 2026. Subsequently, the information was organized into thematic categories and subjected to critical and comparative analysis. The findings showed that sustainable financing strengthened quality assurance processes, enhanced research capacity, promoted institutional innovation, and expanded opportunities for student access and retention through more equitable funding policies. Furthermore, income diversification, financial governance, and digital transformation were identified as key factors contributing to institutional resilience in changing economic environments. It was concluded that sustainable financing is an essential component for consolidating competitive, inclusive, and innovative higher education institutions capable of responding to sustainable development challenges while generating greater scientific and social impact