Purpose: This paper aims to assess the considerations for implementing sustainability initiatives in higher education institutions (HEIs). Design/methodology/approach: It employs a qualitative approach. It is based on opinions gathered from 272 stakeholders (including authorities and academicians) of HEIs. Findings: Nepalese HEIs are facing several challenges, such as the lack of a changing vision and values to create a culture of sustainability initiatives and the socioeconomic and cultural gaps between policy sources and implementation approaches for sustainability. Therefore, they need to consider several sustainability initiatives to improve their performance and competitiveness. Effective leadership, learning culture, sustainability-related policy, effective HRM, organizational structure, supportive culture, technology, rewards, and university-academia-industry linkages are the key prerequisites for implementing sustainability initiatives. Thus, HEIs must make substantial investments in such aspects. Furthermore, they have to focus on sustainability initiative context, feasible strategies, and actionable/practical solutions to implement sustainability initiatives that help in achieving performance outcomes. Research limitations/implications: It is solely based on the opinions of authorities and academicians of Nepalese HEIs. Since it was carried out in the Nepalese context, results might vary at other times and in other nations. Practical implications: It serves as a wake-up message to HEIs' officials about the barricades associated with sustainability initiatives and also addresses important requirements for putting such initiatives into practice. Originality/value: It provides a holistic framework to initiate sustainability in HEIs to help them achieve expected outcomes.