Students' perception of environmental sustainability (ES) exercises at higher education institutions (HEIs) in Bangladesh

Purpose – Environmental sustainability (ES) is a vital issue in recent times as higher education institutions (HEIs) are expected to have significant environmental impacts. This study aims to explore the ES attitudes in three different HEIs in Bangladesh based on student perception. Design/methodolo...

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Main Authors: Md. Nazmul Haque, Muhallil Abtahee, Afra Anika Islam, Md. Ashhab Sadiq
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Emerald Publishing 2023-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Engineering and Built Environment
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/FEBE-07-2022-0030/full/pdf
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author Md. Nazmul Haque
Muhallil Abtahee
Afra Anika Islam
Md. Ashhab Sadiq
author_facet Md. Nazmul Haque
Muhallil Abtahee
Afra Anika Islam
Md. Ashhab Sadiq
author_sort Md. Nazmul Haque
collection DOAJ
description Purpose – Environmental sustainability (ES) is a vital issue in recent times as higher education institutions (HEIs) are expected to have significant environmental impacts. This study aims to explore the ES attitudes in three different HEIs in Bangladesh based on student perception. Design/methodology/approach – Primary data from 200 respondents of 3 HEIs through a questionnaire survey has been collected. The questionnaire was designed to collect data on six criteria: awareness, concern, attitude, willingness to participate and recommendations about campus ES. Pearson's chi-square (χ2), Fisher's exact test statistic, one-way analysis of variance and Spearman's correlation have been used to measure difference and correlation in SPSS. Findings – Though students are aware of ES, only 21% are concerned about the issue. In total, 68% of respondents agreed that campus ES is not a responsibility of authority alone and that others have a role to play; 24% of students do not even know about recycling practices; and 73% of the respondents suggested that knowledge-sharing seminars/conferences could be the best way to improve the campus's ES. Practical implications – A top-down planning approach excludes students from decision-making and direct engagement in Sustainable Campus building. Including student perceptions in planning assists policymakers and smooths the path to a more sustainable campus. Originality/value – This study contributes to the existing literature by providing insight into students' perceptions of sustainability practices in the campus environment.
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spelling doaj.art-af7d9e0b456f46d99ff0bdcd81cd154b2023-08-28T11:26:37ZengEmerald PublishingFrontiers in Engineering and Built Environment2634-24992634-25022023-08-013316717910.1108/FEBE-07-2022-0030Students' perception of environmental sustainability (ES) exercises at higher education institutions (HEIs) in BangladeshMd. Nazmul Haque0Muhallil Abtahee1Afra Anika Islam2Md. Ashhab Sadiq3Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashihiroshima, JapanDepartment of Urban and Regional Planning, Khulna University of Engineering and Technology, Khulna, BangladeshDepartment of Urban and Regional Planning, Khulna University of Engineering and Technology, Khulna, BangladeshDepartment of Urban and Regional Planning, Khulna University of Engineering and Technology, Khulna, BangladeshPurpose – Environmental sustainability (ES) is a vital issue in recent times as higher education institutions (HEIs) are expected to have significant environmental impacts. This study aims to explore the ES attitudes in three different HEIs in Bangladesh based on student perception. Design/methodology/approach – Primary data from 200 respondents of 3 HEIs through a questionnaire survey has been collected. The questionnaire was designed to collect data on six criteria: awareness, concern, attitude, willingness to participate and recommendations about campus ES. Pearson's chi-square (χ2), Fisher's exact test statistic, one-way analysis of variance and Spearman's correlation have been used to measure difference and correlation in SPSS. Findings – Though students are aware of ES, only 21% are concerned about the issue. In total, 68% of respondents agreed that campus ES is not a responsibility of authority alone and that others have a role to play; 24% of students do not even know about recycling practices; and 73% of the respondents suggested that knowledge-sharing seminars/conferences could be the best way to improve the campus's ES. Practical implications – A top-down planning approach excludes students from decision-making and direct engagement in Sustainable Campus building. Including student perceptions in planning assists policymakers and smooths the path to a more sustainable campus. Originality/value – This study contributes to the existing literature by providing insight into students' perceptions of sustainability practices in the campus environment.https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/FEBE-07-2022-0030/full/pdfSustainabilityCampusEnvironmentPerceptionBangladesh
spellingShingle Md. Nazmul Haque
Muhallil Abtahee
Afra Anika Islam
Md. Ashhab Sadiq
Students' perception of environmental sustainability (ES) exercises at higher education institutions (HEIs) in Bangladesh
Frontiers in Engineering and Built Environment
Sustainability
Campus
Environment
Perception
Bangladesh
title Students' perception of environmental sustainability (ES) exercises at higher education institutions (HEIs) in Bangladesh
title_full Students' perception of environmental sustainability (ES) exercises at higher education institutions (HEIs) in Bangladesh
title_fullStr Students' perception of environmental sustainability (ES) exercises at higher education institutions (HEIs) in Bangladesh
title_full_unstemmed Students' perception of environmental sustainability (ES) exercises at higher education institutions (HEIs) in Bangladesh
title_short Students' perception of environmental sustainability (ES) exercises at higher education institutions (HEIs) in Bangladesh
title_sort students perception of environmental sustainability es exercises at higher education institutions heis in bangladesh
topic Sustainability
Campus
Environment
Perception
Bangladesh
url https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/FEBE-07-2022-0030/full/pdf
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