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

Author

Listed:
  • 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)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Ismaila R. Abubakar & Faez S. Al-Shihri & Sayed M. Ahmed, 2016. "Students’ Assessment of Campus Sustainability at the University of Dammam, Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-14, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:8:y:2016:i:1:p:59-:d:61919
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. Hua-Yueh Liu & Hsi-Chieh Lee, 2022. "The Carbon Inventory of the Reuse Phase’s Life Cycle: The Example of the Reconstruction of a Zero-Carbon Campus on an Unused Military Camp," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-16, January.
    4. Sharifah Nurlaili Farhana Syed Azhar & Noor Adelyna Mohammed Akib & Suzyrman Sibly & Saidatulakmal Mohd, 2022. "Students’ Attitude and Perception towards Sustainability: The Case of Universiti Sains Malaysia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-17, March.
    5. Jiawen Wang & Minghui Yang & Petra Maresova, 2020. "Sustainable Development at Higher Education in China: A Comparative Study of Students’ Perception in Public and Private Universities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-19, March.
    6. Sadia Akhtar & Kashif Ullah Khan & Fouzia Atlas & Muhammad Irfan, 2022. "Stimulating student’s pro-environmental behavior in higher education institutions: an ability–motivation–opportunity perspective," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 4128-4149, March.
    7. Ragab Rabeiy & Saud Almutairi & Ahmed Birima & Lamyaa Kassem & Ayman Nafady, 2023. "A Cross-Sectional Study of Knowledge, Practice, and Management of Solid Waste Segregation in Higher Educational Institutes: A Case Study in KSA," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-16, March.
    8. Habib M. Alshuwaikhat & Ismaila R. Abubakar & Yusuf A. Aina & Yusuf A. Adenle & Muhammad Umair, 2017. "The Development of a GIS-Based Model for Campus Environmental Sustainability Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-23, March.
    9. Aroub Alnasser & Nsreen Musallat, 2022. "Food Sustainability Knowledge among Saudis: Towards the Goals of Saudi Vision 2030," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-17, September.
    10. Dolores Gallardo-Vázquez & José A. Folgado-Fernández, 2020. "Regional Economic Sustainability: Universities’ Role in Their Territories," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-21, March.
    11. Raghad Almashhour & Fatin Samara, 2022. "Evaluating Livability Perceptions: Indicators to Evaluate Livability of a University Campus," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-31, September.
    12. Abolfazl Dehghanmongabadi & Şebnem Hoşkara, 2018. "Challenges of Promoting Sustainable Mobility on University Campuses: The Case of Eastern Mediterranean University," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-21, December.
    13. Habib M. Alshuwaikhat & Yusuf A. Adenle & Bilal Saghir, 2016. "Sustainability Assessment of Higher Education Institutions in Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(8), pages 1-16, August.
    14. Rosa María Brito & Columba Rodríguez & José Luis Aparicio, 2018. "Sustainability in Teaching: An Evaluation of University Teachers and Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-16, February.
    15. Gaydaa Al-Zohbi & Maura A. E. Pilotti, 2023. "Contradictions about Sustainability: A Case Study of College Students from Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-15, February.

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