Students’ Assessment of Campus Sustainability at the University of Dammam, Saudi Arabia

Ismaila R. Abubakar, Faez S. Al-Shihri and Sayed M. Ahmed
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Ismaila R. Abubakar: College of Architecture and Planning, University of Dammam, P.O. Box 2397, Dammam 31451, Saudi Arabia
Faez S. Al-Shihri: College of Architecture and Planning, University of Dammam, P.O. Box 2397, Dammam 31451, Saudi Arabia
Sayed M. Ahmed: College of Architecture and Planning, University of Dammam, P.O. Box 2397, Dammam 31451, Saudi Arabia

Sustainability, 2016, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Higher education institutions are major drivers of change in achieving environmental sustainability both within college campuses and beyond campuses in communities at large. However, achieving campus sustainability is not possible without the involvement of students as one of the major stakeholders of a university. Based on survey of 152 students of the College of Architecture and Planning, University of Dammam, Saudi Arabia, this study explores students’ assessment of campus sustainability components: curriculum and research; campus operations; and community involvement. The results show that even though the students indicate a great deal of awareness and concern about campus environmental sustainability, they lack interest and willingness to participate in initiatives towards achieving sustainability. Apart from some sustainable landscaping and waste recycling practices, there are few sustainability initiatives in transportation and energy and water conservation on the campus. Offered courses and student projects have also been reported to have modest focus on sustainability. The article concludes by highlighting the roles of incorporating sustainability into campus operations, and training university students in promoting environmental sustainability in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.

Keywords: sustainability; environment; Dammam; university students; education; campus (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (16)

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