Exploring Student Engagement in Sustainability Education and Study Abroad

Michael Tarrant, Stephen Schweinsberg, Adam Landon, Stephen L. Wearing, Matthew McDonald and Donald Rubin
Additional contact information
Michael Tarrant: Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
Stephen Schweinsberg: Business School, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo 2006, Australia
Adam Landon: Division of Fish and Wildlife, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul, MN 55155, USA
Stephen L. Wearing: Business School, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo 2006, Australia
Matthew McDonald: Psychology Program, Fulbright University Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
Donald Rubin: Departments of Communication Studies and Language and Literacy Education, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 22, 1-14

Abstract: This paper specifically outlines an investigation of the influence of sustainability education and study abroad coursework on levels of a key component of academic success, student engagement. A quasi-experimental design compared pretest and posttest levels of engagement (measured by the Deep Learning Scale) among undergraduate students enrolled in four types of courses). Data were analyzed using a repeated measures MANOVA and supported two significant 2-way interactions (Sustainability * Time and Study Abroad * Time) suggesting that student engagement (Deep Learning) is more likely to increase with sustainability (than non-sustainability) courses and with study abroad (than non-study abroad/campus courses). Findings provide empirical support for university initiatives that seek to incorporate sustainability coursework and study abroad opportunities into the undergraduate curriculum as means to enhance students’ overall engagement and academic success. The paper provides insights into where sustainability education and study abroad courses have broad potential to promote engagement and, as such, should be considered part of the general learning requirement of university education. In terms of study limitations, the sample is drawn from one university and self-selection bias is possible for students choosing to enroll in study abroad and sustainability-focused courses.

Keywords: student engagement; sustainability education; study abroad (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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