Sustainability Literacy of University Students: An Implementation at Bursa Uludağ University

Öz

Despite the significant progress made by many societies, challenges such as poverty, biodiversity loss, and climate change persist. Therefore, it is crucial for all societies to prioritize sustainability literacy in order to address future challenges. Sustainability literacy, which enables individuals to understand the interdependencies between the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainable development, can be primarily achieved through education. However, for sustainability literacy to be fully realized, it is important that sustainable lifestyles are integrated into attitudes and behaviors, particularly following education at the university level. In line with the growing importance of sustainability literacy, the main aim of this study is to assess the sustainability literacy of university students. As part of the research conducted at Bursa Uludağ University (BUU), students’ sustainability knowledge and attitudes were measured, and the findings were analyzed. The frequency analyses revealed that while BUU students possess sustainability literacy, it remains at a moderate level based on the scale scores. Additionally, the study examined whether students' sustainability literacy differed according to demographic characteristics. The analyses indicated statistically significant differences between sustainability literacy and demographic factors such as gender, nationality, faculty, and year of study. The results provide important insights for universities regarding the policies they should follow in sustainability education.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Sustainability
• Sustainability Literacy
• Higher Education Institutions

Etik Beyan

It has been declared that ethical principles and standards have been complied with in this study. Approval for this study was obtained from Bursa Uludağ University Social and Human Sciences Research and Publication Ethics Committee (Decision Date: 31.05.2024, Decision No. 47).

Üniversite Öğrencilerinin Sürdürülebilirlik Okuryazarlığı: Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesinde Bir Uygulama

Öz

Birçok toplumun kaydettiği büyük ilerlemelere rağmen, yoksulluk, biyolojik çeşitlilik kaybı ve iklim değişikliği gibi zorluklar hala varlığını sürdürmektedir. Bu nedenle tüm toplumların gelecekteki zorluklarla başa çıkabilmeleri için sürdürülebilirlik okuryazarlığa önem vermeleri gerekmektedir. Bireylerin sürdürülebilir kalkınmanın çevresel, sosyal ve ekonomik boyutları arasındaki bağımlılıkları anlamalarını sağlayan sürdürülebilirlik okuryazarlık ilk olarak eğitimle sağlanabilmektedir. Ancak sürdürülebilirlik okuryazarlık için özellikle üniversite düzeyinde alınan eğitim sonrasında sürdürülebilir yaşam tarzının tutum ve davranışlara da entegre edilmesi önemlidir. Sürdürülebilirlik okuryazarlığın giderek artan önemi doğrultusunda hazırlanan bu çalışmanın temel amacı da üniversite öğrencilerinin sürdürülebilirlik okuryazarlığını belirlemektir. Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi’nde (BUÜ) uygulanan araştırma kapsamında, öğrencilerin sürdürülebilirlik bilgileri ve tutumları ölçülmüş ve bulgular analiz edilmiştir. Yapılan frekans analizleri sonucunda ölçek puanlarına göre BUÜ öğrencilerinin sürdürülebilirlik okuryazarlığının olduğu ancak orta düzeyde kaldığı söylenebilmektedir. Çalışmada ayrıca öğrencilerin sürdürülebilirlik okuryazarlıklarının demografik özelliklerine göre farklılık gösterip göstermedikleri ölçülmüştür. Yapılan analizler; cinsiyet, uyruk, fakülte ve öğrenim yılı gibi demografik özellikler ile öğrencilerin sürdürülebilirlik okuryazarlığı arasında istatiksel olarak anlamlı farklılıklar olduğunu göstermiştir. Elde edilen sonuçlar, üniversitelerin sürdürülebilirlik eğitimi konusunda izlemesi gereken politikalar açısından önemli çıkarımlar sunmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Sürdürülebilirlik
• Sürdürülebilirlik Okuryazarlığı
• Yüksek Öğrenim Kurumları

Etik Beyan

Bu çalışmada etik ilke ve standartlara uyulduğu beyan edilmiştir. Bu çalışma için Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi Sosyal ve Beşeri Bilimler Araştırma ve Yayın Etik Kurulu’ndan onay alınmıştır (Karar Tarihi: 31.05.2024, Karar No. 47).

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