"I'm not sure what it is, but it is important" - Analysis of the Attitudes of Students of the University of Rijeka in Terms of Sustainable Development Cover Image

"Nisam sigurna što je, ali je bitno" - analiza stavova studenata Sveučilišta u Rijeci o održivom razvoju
"I'm not sure what it is, but it is important" - Analysis of the Attitudes of Students of the University of Rijeka in Terms of Sustainable Development

Author(s): Bojana Ćulum, Nena Rončević, Jasminka Ledić
Subject(s): Social Sciences
Published by: Centar za politološka istraživanja
Keywords: education for sustainable development; student attitudes towards sustainable development

Summary/Abstract: Theoretical part of this paper consists of a coherent overview of different approaches and definitions of sustainable development and analyses the role that higher education institutions (should) play in promoting the sustainable development. Furthermore, relevant research results of a pilot study conducted in 2007 at the University of Rijeka on a sample of 105 students. The objective of this study was to examine the level of awareness and understanding of the concept of sustainable development, as well as to investigate the attitudes and behaviors related to some aspects of this concept. The main hypothesis how students are not familiar with the concept of sustainable development and how, consequently, their attitudes and life habits do not give necessary guaranty needed for this approach, has been confirmed. In other words, most of the examinees cannot define sustainable development. The examinees perceive schools as having the lowest responsibility in the promotion of the idea of sustainable development. According to this opinion, the media and civil society institutions have a considerable role while the maximal responsibility lies on the political level. Students regard political willingness as the first step in the promotion of sustainable development, from where it can spread through the society. Without initial activity from the political level the promotion of the idea of sustainable development is not possible.

  • Issue Year: 2008
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 62-75
  • Page Count: 14
  • Language: Croatian