It is widely accepted that administrative staff, as important components of a university’s workforce, play a critical role in realizing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The worth of administrative staff is based on their productivity, and this has a significant impact on the viability of universities. Based on the job demands–resources model, this study investigates the antecedents of job burnout among administrative staff from both emotional and interpersonal perspectives, taking into account SDGs 3, 4, and 8. In this paper, a quantitative research method using descriptive and inferential analyses explores the complex interplay between job autonomy, emotional job demands, colleague support, and job burnout, with a particular emphasis on the role of emotion regulation. A questionnaire was answered anonymously by 1009 administrative staff members in China, and the results conclude that job autonomy was negatively associated with job burnout, while emotional job demands were positively linked to burnout. Moreover, leader support emerged as more beneficial to workers than colleague support. Emotion regulation strategies such as reappraisal function as an important personal resource that buffers the negative effects of job demands and enhances job resources, leading to lower levels of burnout. Furthermore, this study examines how the SDGs can be achieved through reducing job burnout. The important implications for university administrative staff and policymakers, as well as the sustainable development of universities, are discussed.

General well-being is a positive evaluation of one’s mental health, which is an important topic in mental health. General well-being is fundamental to the positive development of young people. A thorough understanding of the factors that influence happiness have not yet been developed for students at normal universities in Ningxia Province in China. This study examined the mediation effects of time management on the relationship between achievement motivation, self-efficacy, and general well-being among students at normal universities in Ningxia Province in China. Using a random sampling, 163 participants (68 males and 95 females) completed the Achievement Motivation Scale (AMS), General Self-efficacy Scale (GSES), Time Management Questionnaire (TMQ) and General Well-being Scale (GWBS). Achievement motivation, self-efficacy, and time management were positively correlated with general well-being. The mediation effects of time management on the relationships between achievement motivation, self-efficacy, and general wellbeing (0.169 and 0.447) were demonstrated. These results add to the nuanced relationship between self-efficacy, achievement motivation, and general well-being. According to the Achievement Motivation Theory and the Self-efficacy Theory, this study reveals the role of achievement motivation, self-efficacy on general well-being and the mediating effect of time management in the relationship between achievement motivation, self-efficacy, and general well-being. According to the findings, the school can carry out a series of lectures and tutoring activities to enhance students’ achievement motivation, self-efficacy, time management, and general well-being.

Following the fourth objective of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), education disparities are one of the most serious issues holding back national development. Despite efforts being made to tackle this discrepancy, it has long been a source of concern for many communities. It is important to note that residential colleges (RCs) have evolved and contributed to higher education for several decades now, aiming to provide an equal and inclusive living and learning environment. Having said that, while disparity is still one of the most challenging issues in this system, it has not been fully examined. Using stratified random sampling on RC students’ data from undergraduate universities piloting RC programs up to 2018 in different parts of China, this study examines the effects of socioeconomic status (SES) on RC access. The study further explores the difference in academic achievement among RC students from diverse SES backgrounds and comprehensively analyzes the impact of RC on sustainable education. The study finds that disparities exist in accessing RC for individuals from varied SES backgrounds. However, RC mitigates the influence of SES on academic achievement to curtail these differences. The findings imply that ensuring access to RC for individuals from underprivileged SES backgrounds should be prioritized to address education-disparity-related challenges.

The underrepresentation of women in STEM fields persists, despite ongoing global initiatives aimed at achieving gender equality. Gender inequality and associated biases significantly impact educational equity and academic outcomes. This research investigated the impact of gender role stereotypes on the STEM academic performance of high school girls in economically deprived regions of China, with a particular focus on the mediating effect of educational aspirations and the moderating role of grade level in promoting equity in STEM education. Using a quantitative research approach, this study surveyed 768 female students (10th–11th grade) and analyzed data using regression and moderated mediation analysis to examine the proposed relationships. Results show that gender role stereotypes and STEM academic performance have a negative correlation (β = -0.066, p < 0.05). This association is fully mediated by educational aspirations, indicating that gender role stereotypes primarily influence STEM performance by shaping students' academic aspirations [indirect effect β = 0.134, 95% CI (-0.9047, -0.0994), p < 0.001]. Specifically, stronger gender role stereotypes are associated with lower educational aspirations, which in turn lead to reduced STEM academic achievement. However, as students progress to higher grades, the negative effect of gender role stereotypes on STEM academic performance weakens, becoming nonsignificant in 11th grade. This pattern suggests that while educational aspirations serve as a critical pathway through which gender role stereotypes affect STEM outcomes, the overall influence of these stereotypes diminishes as students face increasing academic pressure and raise more resilient self-identities. This study emphasizes the necessity of addressing gender stereotypes at pivotal educational stages and advocates for specific interventions. The research presented here offers practical recommendations for policymakers and educators aimed at promoting gender equity and mitigating achievement barriers in STEM fields.