Sustainable Development Goals and 2030 Agenda: Awareness, Knowledge and Attitudes in Nine Italian Universities, 2019

Cecilia Smaniotto, Claudio Battistella, Laura Brunelli, Edoardo Ruscio, Antonella Agodi, Francesco Auxilia, Valentina Baccolini, Umberto Gelatti, Anna Odone, Rosa Prato, Stefano Tardivo, Gianluca Voglino, Francesca Valent, Silvio Brusaferro, Federica Balzarini, Martina Barchitta, Alberto Carli, Francesco Castelli, Cristina Coppola, Giuseppina Iannelli, Marica Milazzo, Barbara Rosina, Carla Salerno, Roberta Siliquini and Sauro Sisi
Additional contact information
Cecilia Smaniotto: Department of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy
Claudio Battistella: Department of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy
Laura Brunelli: Department of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy
Edoardo Ruscio: Department of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy
Antonella Agodi: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Sicilia, Italy
Francesco Auxilia: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Lombardia, Italy
Valentina Baccolini: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Lazio, Italy
Umberto Gelatti: Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Lombardia, Italy
Anna Odone: Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Lombardia, Italy
Rosa Prato: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Puglia, Italy
Stefano Tardivo: Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Veneto, Italy
Gianluca Voglino: Department of Public Health Sciences and Pediatrics, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Piemonte, Italy
Francesca Valent: Friuli Centrale Healthcare and University Integrated Trust, 33100 Udine, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy
Silvio Brusaferro: Department of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy
Federica Balzarini: Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Lombardia, Italy
Martina Barchitta: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Sicilia, Italy
Alberto Carli: Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Veneto, Italy
Francesco Castelli: University Research and Documentation Center for the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and Brescia Spedali Civili General Hospital, 25123 Brescia, Lombardia, Italy
Cristina Coppola: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Puglia, Italy
Giuseppina Iannelli: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Puglia, Italy
Marica Milazzo: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Puglia, Italy
Barbara Rosina: Advisory and Career Service, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Lombardia, Italy
Carla Salerno: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Lazio, Italy
Roberta Siliquini: Department of Public Health Sciences and Pediatrics, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Piemonte, Italy
Sauro Sisi: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Puglia, Italy

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 23, 1-18

Abstract: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 2030 Agenda represent global development programs. Education can widen the acknowledgement of their relevance and their applications. This survey aims to assess awareness, knowledge and attitudes towards SDGs and sustainability among first-year students in nine Italian Universities. A Likert scale-based online questionnaire of 70 items was compiled by students from March to July 2019. It examined knowledge and expectations referred to sustainable development concepts, indicators and documents/models accounting for sociodemographic variables. Statistical analyses performed were Chi-square test, Fisher’s Exact test, Kendall’s W correlation coefficient, univariate and multivariate analysis. The questionnaire was completed by 1676 students. A low percentage referred a good knowledge of SDGs and 2030 Agenda, most of them had never attended related educational activities previously. Better knowledge of SDGs and 2030 Agenda was observed in case of previous specific educational activities ( p < 0.001). The expectation towards university guaranteeing an education on SDGs was high, both for personal wisdom and for usefulness in future professional context. A significant difference ( p < 0.001) in such expectations was found, as healthcare students were less interested than colleagues of other areas. The results showed low knowledge but interest towards sustainable development. A scheduled implementation of academic initiatives should be considered.

Keywords: UN Sustainable Development Goals; 2030 Agenda; University; first-year students; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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