“Guiding University Students towards Sustainability”: A Training to Enhance Sustainable Careers, Foster a Sense of Community, and Promote Sustainable Behaviors

Andrea Zammitti (), Angela Russo, Valentina Baeli and Zira Hichy
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Andrea Zammitti: Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy
Angela Russo: Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy
Valentina Baeli: Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy
Zira Hichy: Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 18, 1-14

Abstract: Professional development involves facing numerous challenges. It is a complex process, susceptible to personal aspects (e.g., health, happiness, productivity), but also contextual aspects (e.g., recognition of the complexity and unpredictability of the labor market, and of the need to have a positive impact on the community). The life design paradigm views individuals as active agents in their career construction. Although this approach strongly emphasizes individual agency, it also underscores the importance of addressing broader issues related to sustainability. Indeed, career counselling can stimulate actions that favor sustainable development, benefiting society and enhancing the well-being of all people. To this end, we developed a training to stimulate reflections on sustainable careers, sense of community, and sustainable behavior. The study involved 44 university students divided into an experimental ( n = 22) and a control group ( n = 22). The first group participated in 16 online activities, interspersed with three in-person meetings. After the training, the experimental group exhibited improvements in sustainable careers, sense of community, self-efficacy in implementing sustainable behavior, and the perceived importance of promoting sustainability. These findings suggest that career counselling activities can significantly increase the personal resources of university students, equipping them to contribute to society and promote a sustainable world.

Keywords: sustainable careers; sustainability; university students; training; sense of community; sustainable behavior (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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