Exploring sustainable development perceptions among higher education students: An empirical study on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours

Abstract

Higher education institutions have a role to play in developing sustainability skills and changing students' attitudes and behaviour towards sustainability issues and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This article aims to explore the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of higher education students towards sustainability and understand how these vary in line with gender, age, level of education, the field of study and familiarity with the SDGs. A questionnaire survey was carried out among higher education students. A sample of 716 students from different European countries and Türkiye was obtained. The results show that the relationship between students' knowledge of sustainability and their behaviour towards sustainability issues is partly mediated by their attitudes towards sustainability. The practical implications of this study are that it highlights the need to strengthen education on sustainable development and the SDGs in all areas and at all levels of higher education and to provide sound training in this field from the moment students enter higher education. Although knowledge and attitudes towards sustainability are well developed, higher education institutions must train students to change their behaviour.