The Engagement of Students in Higher Education Institutions with the Concepts of Sustainability: A Case Study of the University of Northampton, in England
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Student Engagement with the Concepts of Sustainability
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- Some 8.2% of students do not recycle
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- Approximately 50% were of the view that they were doing as much as they could to recycle, however, the others required support, particularly those living on halls of residence on campus. Indeed, those living on campus were less likely to recycle if it required additional effort, compared to those living in private rented accommodation
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- Students living off campus were less likely to be aware of campus recycling systems
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- Environmental benefits are key motivators for recycling
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- Recycling behaviour whilst at university is consistent with practices during the holidays
3. Materials and Methods
3.1. Student Surveys
3.2. Energy Consumption Audits
3.3. Surveying Landlords
4. Results
4.1. Student Surveys
4.1.1. Socio-Demographic Characteristics
4.1.2. Attitudes and Beliefs about Sustainability
4.1.3. Awareness of Sustainability Initiatives
4.2. Energy Consumption in Private Accommodation
4.3. Landlords’ Engagement with Sustainability
5. Discussion
5.1. Students’ Engagement with the Concepts of Sustainability
5.2. Landlords’ Engagement
5.3. Overarching Issues and Recommendations
6. Conclusions
Acknowledgments
Author Contributions
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Factor | Sub Factor | Frequency | Percentage |
---|---|---|---|
Gender | Male | 223 | 38.6 |
Female | 348 | 60.3 | |
Age range (years) | 16–25 | 486 | 84.2 |
26–35 | 52 | 9 | |
36–45 | 17 | 3 | |
46–55 | 9 | 1.5 | |
>56 | 1 | 0.17 | |
Accommodation | Halls | 125 | 21.6 |
Private accommodation | 446 | 77.3 |
Factor | Frequency |
---|---|
Students actively engaged with P2 initiatives | 1630 |
Student led sustainability enterprises | 3 |
Properties accredited during the Green House awards scheme | 47 |
Student volunteers recruited and trained | 141 |
Properties recruited for Student Switch Off+ | 131 over two years |
Changemaker auditors trained | 13 |
Factor | Baseline Survey | Follow-up Survey | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Frequency | Percentage | Frequency | Percentage | |
Recycling | 251 | 43.5 | 232 | 65 |
Student Switch Off+ | 67 | 11.6 | 18 | 5 |
Sensors for lighting | 41 | 7 | 19 | 5.3 |
Electronic submission of assignments/limitation of printing | 22 | 3.8 | 3 | 0.8 |
The University’s buses | 16 | 2.7 | 7 | 1.9 |
Planet Too | 15 | 2.6 | 10 | 2.8 |
Limiting parking on campus/encouraging car sharing | 14 | 2.4 | - | - |
Recycling of food waste | 8 | 1.4 | 1 | 0.3 |
Use of eco-friendly vehicles | 3 | 0.5 | - | - |
Use of solar panels | 2 | 0.35 | 10 | 2.8 |
Use of water saving devices | 2 | 0.35 | 1 | 0.3 |
Sale of fair trade products | 1 | 0.17 | 1 | 0.3 |
A UoN bicycle scheme | - | - | 82 | 23 |
Allotments on campus | - | - | 5 | 1.4 |
Energy saving bulbs | - | - | 8 | 2.2 |
Factor | Baseline Survey | Follow-up Survey | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Frequency | Percentage | Frequency | Percentage | |
Recycling | 438 | 76 | 285 | 79.8 |
Walking/cycling | 300 | 52 | 149 | 41.7 |
Conserving electricity | 285 | 49.4 | 163 | 45.7 |
Conserving water | 163 | 28.2 | 118 | 33.1 |
Factor | Baseline Survey | Follow-up Survey | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Frequency | Percentage | Frequency | Percentage | |
Recycling | 442 | 76.6 | 269 | 75.4 |
Conserving electricity | 292 | 50.6 | 175 | 49 |
Walking/cycling | 280 | 48.5 | 149 | 41.7 |
Conserving water | 177 | 30.6 | 110 | 30.8 |
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Cleverdon, L.; Pole, S.; Weston, R.; Banga, S.; Tudor, T. The Engagement of Students in Higher Education Institutions with the Concepts of Sustainability: A Case Study of the University of Northampton, in England. Resources 2017, 6, 3. https://doi.org/10.3390/resources6010003
Cleverdon L, Pole S, Weston R, Banga S, Tudor T. The Engagement of Students in Higher Education Institutions with the Concepts of Sustainability: A Case Study of the University of Northampton, in England. Resources. 2017; 6(1):3. https://doi.org/10.3390/resources6010003
Chicago/Turabian StyleCleverdon, Leo, Simon Pole, Roger Weston, Sindy Banga, and Terry Tudor. 2017. "The Engagement of Students in Higher Education Institutions with the Concepts of Sustainability: A Case Study of the University of Northampton, in England" Resources 6, no. 1: 3. https://doi.org/10.3390/resources6010003
APA StyleCleverdon, L., Pole, S., Weston, R., Banga, S., & Tudor, T. (2017). The Engagement of Students in Higher Education Institutions with the Concepts of Sustainability: A Case Study of the University of Northampton, in England. Resources, 6(1), 3. https://doi.org/10.3390/resources6010003