Centro de Investigação em Qualidade de Vida

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Students’ perspectives on sustainable development goals in Portuguese higher education institutions

Publication . Aleixo, Ana Marta; Leal, Susana; Azeiteiro, Ulisses

In this paper, we present a research about the understanding of sustainable development (SD) among students of public higher education institutions, in Portugal. It explores the students’ perspectives about SD through the analysis of their attitudes, skills and experiences on the theme. Their knowledge about sustainable development goals (SDGs) and their opinion about the importance of SD as future professionals were also under consideration. The research design of the study follows a descriptive and exploratory approach with a quantitative reporting of results. It was used an on-line questionnaire, adapted from the National Union Students (2018), Chuvieco et al. (2018) and Dagiliūtė et al. (2018). A sample of 1257 students from the Portuguese public higher education institutions (HEIs) was obtained. In general, the results show that students have knowledge about environmental issues. Students study, at different degrees, subjects related to SD and SDGs, however participation and involvement is lacking. It is urgent to introduce SD education in all curricula. In addition, most students already have heard about SDGs and know what they are, however, only a small number of students are actively involved in activities organized by their HEIs. Students also consider that secondary education was the educational path that most encouraged to think and act in ways that help the environment and people. Students consider that HEIs can do more in terms of education for SD. From a global perspective, this study corroborate the three previous studies, namely the factors associated to more pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours are still poorly understood. This research has a national scope and the results should be interpreted only in the Portuguese context. Future studies should include a larger range of institutional actors within the faculty. The study helps to better understand the students’ perceptions about SD and the role of HEIs to improve it, namely in Portugal where the studies about the theme are scarce. The results could be used by HEIs to introduce the SD topics in formal and informal education, as well as to improve it integration on campus activities.

2020Conference object

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Stop - Para, Escuta e Lê - Apontamentos de Psicologia do Desporto

Publication . Dias, Isabel Simões

2023-07Book

Open access

A student perspective on sustainable development in Portuguese higher education institutions

Publication . Aleixo, Ana Marta; Azeiteiro, Ulisses M.; Leal, Susana

This study presents a descriptive and exploratory research about the understanding of sustainable development (SD) among public higher education institutions’ students, in Portugal. It explores the student’s perspectives about SD through the analysis of their attitudes, skills and experiences on the theme. Their knowledge about sustainable development goals (SDGs) and their opinion about the importance of SD as future professionals were also under consideration. The research design of the study follows a descriptive and exploratory approach with a quantitative reporting of results. It was used an on-line questionnaire, adapted, majority, from the National Union Students (2018), to obtain the data. A sample of 1257 students from the Portuguese public higher education institutions (HEIs) was obtained. Students consider that HEIs can do more in terms of education for SD, namely: (i) offer free SD courses/workshops; (ii) streamline/develop actions on SD; (iii) encourage volunteer actions in the community, and (iv) promote student participation in practical on-campus actions. Students also consider that secondary education was the educational path that most encouraged to think and act in ways that help the environment and people. Most students already have heard about SDGs and know what they are, however, only a small number of students are actively involved in activities organized by their HEI. This research has a national scope and the results should be interpreted only in the Portuguese context. Future studies should include a larger range of institutional actors within the faculty. The research aimed to better understanding student’s attitudes, skills and experiences of SD and SDG´s. This study provides valuable insights for future implementation processes supporting the integration to sustainability in HEIs. The results could be used by HEIs to introduce the SD topics in formal and informal education, as well as to improve it integration on campus activities.

2020Conference object

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Students’ perspectives on sustainable development goals in Portuguese higher education institutions

Publication . Aleixo, Ana Marta; Leal, Susana; Azeiteiro, Ulisses

2020Conference object

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Are the sustainable development goals being implemented in the Portuguese higher education formative offer?

Publication . Aleixo, Ana Marta; Azeiteiro, Ulisses M.; Leal, Susana

Purpose: The study aims to examine the vertical integration of the sustainable development goals (SGDs) in Portuguese public higher education institutions, namely, at the level of undergraduate and master’s degrees, and the extent to which Portuguese higher education institutions (HEI) are preparing for the United Nations’ call to promote SDGs. Design/methodology/approach: A content analysis of the designations and objectives of the 2,556 undergraduate and master’s degrees (in 33 Portuguese public higher education institutions) was done to determine whether they promote at least one SDG. Findings: The results show that 198 courses directly address at least one SDG; on average, each higher education institution (HEI) has six courses that explicitly address at least one SDG; universities have more courses in SDG areas than in polytechnics; more master’s degrees embrace SDGs than undergraduate degrees; and most of the courses addressing SDGs are from the social sciences and humanities areas and from natural and environmental sciences. Originality/value: This paper serves to raise the awareness of Portuguese HEIs of their role and responsibility in furthering SGDs.

2020-01-06Journal article

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