Strategies for Sustainable Retrofits in Higher Learning Institutions' Infrastructure in African Countries: A Bibliometric Review

Abstract

Higher learning institutions across African developing countries face aging infra-structure, increasing energy demands, and the need to align with sustainability goals. Retrofit-ting existing buildings offers a cost-effective strategy to improve environmental performance and occupant well-being. However, limited consolidated knowledge exists on sustainable retrofit strategies within the African higher education context. This study evaluates such strategies through a bibliometric review of 33 Scopus-indexed publications, using VOSviewer to analyse citation networks and keyword co-occurrence. The findings show that China dominate the re-search output, while African contributions remain limited, with South Africa leading the region. Key themes identified include sustainable development, green building, energy efficiency, and construction practices. The results highlight a significant research gap in African focused studies and emphasise the need for capacity building among academics and practitioners. This study provides insights to guide future research and support the effective implementation of sustainable retrofitting in higher education infrastructure.

Keywords: Green Building, Sustainable Development, Higher Learning, Infrastructure, Developing Countries

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1007910