A Novel Green Ocean Strategy for Financial Sustainability (GOSFS) in Higher Education Institutions: King Abdulaziz University as a Case Study

Financing education has recently been a big concern since educational expenditure continues to rise. As a result, there will be a gradual shift away from the “unilateral approach” to funding and toward the “diversification of financing resources”. The aim of this paper is to propose an innovative strategy plan to optimize universities’ investment sources and maintain their financial sustainability. This approach was known as the Green Ocean Strategy for Financial Sustainability (GOSFS). To effectively implement GOSFS in higher education institutions, a roadmap of 18 steps is constructed around three primary key performance areas (resource development, good governance, and regulations and legislation). The GOSFS was applied within four successive stages at King Abdulaziz University as a case study. With 18 pillars found under these three key performance areas, a long-term target for 2045 and an overall goal for 2025 were defined. In addition, the paper created novel versions of the Business Model Canvas to meet the GOSFS plan concept. To effectively employ GOSFS, four recommendations are offered to accelerate business growth and engage the university investment ecosystem, including whether to invest in highly qualified human capital, expand financial resources, or leverage technical resources. Future directions are also provided.