UNDERSTANDING THE PREDICTORS OF STUDENTS’ ECOLOGICAL BEHAVIOUR: EVIDENCE FROM GHANA

Abstract

Purpose –– This study examines the factors influencing the adoption of ecological behaviour among first year students at the University of Environment and Sustainable Development in Ghana. Methods –– The study employed a questionnaire survey design. Data was collected from 103 students enrolled into programmes offered by the School of Sustainable Development and the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences. Inferential analysis was computed using regression. Findings –– Results show that students’ demographic characteristics, particularly their current and past academic programmes, year of completion of senior high school and household size, positively influence their environmental knowledge and ecological behaviour. Conclusion & Recommendation –– The study concludes that social values and environmental knowledge contribute significantly to promoting students’ ecological behaviour. The study therefore recommends the need for an inclusive and multistakeholder approach to integrating environmental education and social values into existing and future curricula and academic programmes. Keywords –– Tertiary students, environmental education, pro-environmental behaviour, environmental knowledge, social value