Higher education institutions play a vital role in fostering societal transitions towards sustainable and equitable futures, primarily, by equipping university graduates with future-oriented capabilities to address complex contemporary challenges. Despite their efforts, higher education institutions often lack consistent practices in assessing the impact of their educational programmes towards these goals. This paper introduces a framework designed to guide higher education institutions in evaluating the impact of their education programmes. The framework is based on a theory of change and applies an ecological perspective to articulate change mechanisms, including direct and indirect outcomes at individual, organisational, and societal levels over time. It elucidates the often-implicit assumptions about education programmes' contributions to societal transitions. The study aims to inspire action, inviting educators to consider the impact of their programmes in fostering long-term social and environmental sustainability beyond the boundaries of education institutions.