Environmental Education and Student Eco-Consciousness Predictors: Implications for Sustainable Development in Higher Education
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
This study explores the crucial nexus between environmental education (EE) and sustainable development (SD) by investigating students' eco-consciousness in collaboration with the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines. In an era characterized by escalating environmental concerns and the imperative for sustainable practices, understanding the role of education in fostering environmental sustainability is paramount. The research employed a quantitative method approach, using a survey to comprehensively examine students' attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors toward environmental issues and sustainable living practices. Drawing on a diverse sample of students across educational levels, the study found that at Saint Mary’s University, students have a high level of environmental awareness, eco-consciousness, and environmental stewardship. It was further affirmed that those three environmental concepts are intricately influencing one another. The profile variables of gender, age, type of high school they graduated from, and religion are not influential or predictive of their environmental awareness, eco-consciousness, and environmental stewardship. However, school, year level, and ethnicity are influential or predictive. Finally, Saint Mary’s University is fertile ground for environmental sustainability practices, as students have a high level of environmental awareness, eco-consciousness, and environmental stewardship, which are important dimensions of environmental sustainability. It was then recommended that its programs, projects, and activities be sustained and intensified to protect and conserve the environment.
Downloads
References
Al-Faleh, H & Baker Al Serhan (2022). Students' awareness of sustainable environmental development and its impact on their intention to implement the eco-school program in their schools in Jordan. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.
Al-Suqri, M. & Rahma Mihammad Al-Kharusi (2015). Ajzen and Fishbein's Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA). Information Seeking Behavior and Technology Adoption: Theories and Trends. DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-8156-9. ISBN13: 9781466681569.
Baer, W. (2019). Introduction to cognitive action theory. Journal of Physics: Conf. Ser. 1251 012008
Baer, W. (2020). Conscious Action Theory: An Introduction to the Event-Oriented World View. Routledge, New York.
Bennett, N. et. al. (2018). Environmental Stewardship: A Conceptual Review and Analytical Framework. Environmental Management Aims and Scope. Volume 61, pages 597–614.
Capra, F. (1996). The Web of Life. New York: Double Day Book.
CHSF (2023). Clean, Healthy, Safe, and Friendly (CHSF) Environment Manual. Saint Mary’s University. Unpublished edition.
Das, S. et. al (2014). Awareness of School Students about Sustainable Development in Education. International Journal of Informative & Futuristic Research: An Enlightening Online Open Access, Refereed & Indexed Journal of Multidisciplinary Research. Volume -1 Issue -10, June 2014.
DeChano, L. (2006) A Multi-Country Examination of the Relationship Between Environmental Knowledge and Attitudes, International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education, 15:1, 15-28
Driscoll, C. et. al. (2012). Science and Society: The Role of Long-Term Studies in Environmental Stewardship. BioScience 62: 354–366.
Dzhamalova, B. et. al. (2019). Research of Student Ecological Intention Development Level. Ekoloji Dergisi, 2019, Issue 107, p289.
Falkner, R. & Barry Buzan (2019). The emergence of environmental stewardship as a primary institution of global international society. European Journal of International Relations 2019, Vol. 25(1) 131–155. DOI: 10.1177/1354066117741948.
Goodland, R. (1995). The concept of environmental sustainability. Annual Review of Ecology and Systemantics. Vol. 26, 1-24.
Grazianoa, M. (2022). A conceptual framework for consciousness, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 119 No. 18 .
Hazelkorn, E.; Ryan, C.; Beernaert, Y.; Constantinou, C.P.; Deca, L.; Grangeat, M.; Karikorpi, M.; Lazoudis, A.; Pintó; R.; Welzel-Breuer, M. Science Education for Responsible Citizenship; Report to the European Commission of the expert group on science education. European Commission: Brussels, Belgium, 2015.
Huckle, H. (1991). Education for sustainability: Assessing pathways to the future, Australian Journal of Environmental Education 7, 43 – 59.
Hungerford, H. and Trudi Volk (1990). Changing Learner Behavior through environmental Education. Paris, UNESCO.
Japanese Society of Environmental Education (JSOEE) (2016), Goals of Environmental Education in Japan, Retrieved on June 2016 from www.jsoee.jp/oldver/english/index.html
Jensen, B. & Karsten Schnack (1997). The Action Competence Approach in Environmental Education, Environmental Education Research, 3:2, 163-178, DOI: 10.1080/1350462970030205.
Kanerva, T. (2006). Developing Eco-consciousness: A critical exploration of the Ontario Grade 12 “Environment and Resource Management” course. A thesis presented to the University of Toronto.
Kahn, A. et. al. (2024). A Multidimensional exploration of university students’ sustainable consumption and environmental awareness in Pakistan. Journal of Management Info. Vol 11, No. 1.
Laiphrakpam, M., et. al. (2020) Environmental education and awareness among students in India, Japan and Thailand for sustainable development. Journal of Thai Interdisciplinary Research, Volume 14, Number 2, Pages 48 – 53.
Maslang, K, et. al. (2022). Securing a Clean, Healthy, Safe and Friendly School Environment: Context of a Private Higher Education Institution in the Philippines. Journal of Positive School Psychology. Vol. 6, No. 3.
Meadows, D. (1990) Harvesting One Hundredfold. Kenya, United Nations Environment Programme.
Meusburger, P., Benno Werlen , Laura Suarsana (2006). Knowledge and Action. Klaus Tschira Symposia Knowledge and Space, vol. 9.
Molsher, R. & Mardie Townsend (2015). Improving Wellbeing and Environmental Stewardship Through Volunteering in Nature. EcoHealth, 13 (1), December. DOI: 10.1007/s10393-015-1089-1.
Nelles, G. L., & Ressler, M. B. (2023). Youth eco-consciousness and environmentalist identity development at a summer camp. Interdisciplinary Journal of Environmental and Science Education, 19(2), e2308. https://doi.org/10.29333/ijese/13052.
Okada A., Gray P. (2023). A Climate Change and Sustainability, Education Movement: Networks, Open Schooling, and the ‘CARE-KNOW-DO’ Framework. Sustainability 14(24).
Okada, A. (2023). CONNECT open schooling networks for Climate Change and Sustainable Education supported by the CARE-KNOW-DO framework. The Open University, UK.
Ramsey, C. & Roy Rickson (1976). Environmental Knowledge and Attitudes. Journal of Environmental Education. Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 10-18.
Rogayan, D. & Eveyen Elyonna Nebrida (2019). Environmental Awareness and Practices of Science Students: Input for Ecological Management Plan. International Electronic Journal of Environmental Education, Vol.9, Issue 2, 2019, 106-119.
Sarkis, J. & Qingyun Zhu (2018). Environmental sustainability and production: taking the road less travelled, International Journal of Production Research, 56:1-2,743-759, DOI: 10.1080/00207543.2017.1365182.
Takyi, A., et. al. (2023). Creating eco-consciousness from the perspective of students: an assessment of the level of environmental literacy among students in Kumasi. International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education, Volume 32, 2023 - Issue 4.
Tilbury, D. (1995). Environmental Education for Sustainability: Defining the new focus of environmental education in the 1990’s. Environmental Education Research, vol. 1, No. 2, 195-212.
UNESCO (1992). UN Conference on Environment and Development: Agenda 21. Switzerland, UNESCO.
UNEP (2013). UNEP Post-2015 Discussion Paper 1. Version 2 19 July 2013. Available at https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/972embedding-environments-in-SDGs-v2.pdf
Vallerand, et al., (1992). Ajzhen and Fishbein’s theory of reasoned action as applied to moral behavior: A confirmatory Analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. vol. 62, no. 1, 98-109.
Welchman, J. (2012). A Defence of Environmental Stewardship. Environmental Values 21 (2012): 297–316. The White Horse Press. doi: 10.3197/096327112X13400390125975.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
All articles published in our journal are licensed under CC-BY 4.0, which permits authors to retain copyright of their work. This license allows for unrestricted use, sharing, and reproduction of the articles, provided that proper credit is given to the original authors and the source.