Eco-Schools in Higher Education Institutions: Analysing Portuguese Students’ Practices and Perspectives

Abstract

Concerning all the challenges that we currently face, it is of the utmost importance to prioritize Education for Sustainable Development as a way to contribute to a more sustainable world. Higher Education Institutions are considered to be fundamental to this process, albeit the slow progress verified in the transition to real sustainable institutions. Eco-Schools programme is concerned with Education for Sustainable Development and may contribute to this transition. In this study, we analysed Portuguese Higher Education Students’ Practices and Perspectives concerning Sustainable Development, environmental protection, and the relevance of Eco-Schools programme. For this purpose, we applied a questionnaire (Microsoft Forms), which was previously adapted and validated, in two different Portuguese Higher Education Institutions. This study was conducted in 2021/2022 school year with the participation of 288 Higher Education Students. Here we present and discuss the results of three selected questions. Although the majority of students separate waste for recycling, they also reveal some lack of knowledge concerning this process. The bulk of them also considered important the implementation of programmes, such as Eco-schools programme, in Higher Education Institutions. Thus, more research must be carried out in order to better understand the challenges faced when implementing a programme of this nature and what could be improved in order for us to give a better contribution towards a more sustainable world.

Appendix 1: Questionnaire

• 1. I declare that I have been duly informed concerning the objectives and procedures of this study and I accept to complete the questionnaire voluntarily.

  □

• 2. Please indicate your course:

  ___ Primary Education/ ___ Social Education/ ___ Sports/ ___ Social Services/ ___ Other: _____

• 3. In your home, is it usual to separate waste for recycling?

  ___ yes/ ___ No/ ___ Sometimes

• 4. If you answered affirmatively (yes/sometimes) to the previous question, please indicate which type of waste you separate for recycling.

  ___ Paper/ ___ Metals/Can/ ___ Glass/ ___ Plastic/ ___ Kitchen Pots/ ___ Mirrors/ ___ Organic Compounds/ ___ Other: _____

• 5. Please indicate the meaning of the “3 RS policy” concerning waste, by the correct order.

• 6. While you brush your teeth, do you keep the faucet open?

  ___ Never/ ___ Occasionally/ ___ Frequently/ ___ Always

• 7. Please indicate the name of a river or stream that you know and that you have already visited near your Higher Education Institution

• 8. When you are the last person to leave a room in your house that will remain for a long time with no one, do you turn off the light?

  ___ Never/ ___ Occasionally/ ___ Frequently/ ___ Always

• 9. In your home, do you switch off the TV with the remote control and the TV remains in stand-by mode? ___ Never/ ___ Occasionally/ ___ Frequently/ ___ Always

• 10. In general, how do you travel to your Higher Education Institution?

  ___ By foot, bicycle, or public transport/ ___ By private car/ ___ Other: ________

• 11. If for the same route you had to travel you had to choose either to take a train or a bus ride which one would you choose? ___ Train/ ___ Bus

• 12. Do you often listen to music loudly?

  ___ Never/ ___ Occasionally/ ___ Frequently/ ___ Always

• 13. Would you take part in an initiative taken by your Higher Education Institution with the purpose of cleaning or enhancing the institutions’ outdoor spaces?

  ___ Yes/ ___ No

• 14. What actions would you suggest to enhance institutions’ outdoor spaces?

• 15. Please mention 2 examples of native plants.

• 16. Please mention 2 examples of exotic and/or invasive plants.

• 17. In your home, is it usual to buy biological products?

  ___ Never/ ___ Occasionally/ ___ Frequently/ ___ Always

• 18. Please mention two advantages of biological products.

• 19. How often do you eat soup during the lunch/dinner?

  ___ Never/ ___ Occasionally/ ___ Frequently/ ___ Always

• 20. How often do you eat vegetables during the lunch/dinner?

  ___ Never/ ___ Occasionally/ ___ Frequently/ ___ Always

• 21. How often do you consume soft drinks during the lunch/dinner?

  ___ Never/ ___ Occasionally/ ___ Frequently/ ___ Always

• 22. How often do you eat candies during the lunch/dinner?

  ___ Never/ ___ Occasionally/ ___ Frequently/ ___ Always

• 23. How often do you drink milk/yogurt at breakfast?

  ___ Never/ ___ Occasionally/ ___ Frequently/ ___ Always

• 24. How often do you eat pastries at breakfast?

  ___ Never/ ___ Occasionally/ ___ Frequently/ ___ Always

• 25. How often do you eat bread/cereals at breakfast?

  ___ Never/ ___ Occasionally/ ___ Frequently/ ___ Always

• 26. How often do you eat fruit at breakfast?

  ___ Never/ ___ Occasionally/ ___ Frequently/ ___ Always

• 27. For you, what is the relevance of Environmental Education?

• 28. Do you consider important the development of programmes, such as Eco-Schools programme, in a Higher Education Institution? Why?