Surveying Environmental Awareness- A Green Education Agenda: The Case of Eastern Mediterranean University

ABSTRACT: This study investigated and evaluated the extent of university student’s environmental awareness and the depth of their understanding and knowledge about the environment that surrounds them. Knowing the fact that university environment is not an isolated entity in separation from the larger environment known as community. The community and university are both dimensions of larger environment-that includes various ecosystems. This study focuses on measuring the knowledge of university students on environmental awareness and related issues in one hand and university’s commitment to green education agenda in another hand. This study utilized survey questions that applied in other educational institutions. A survey questionnaire distributed among 500 students at EMU to measure their environmental awareness and knowledge through various attributes that addressed environmental issues and concerns. The findings revealed that overall environmental awareness and knowledge among students are low, which will have negative repercussion in the future. The study has also revealed that EMU’s commitment to green education agenda is minimal. The results of this study have significant implications for university curriculum development and coordination, community and environment, as well as, the students’ environmental behavior in the future. Overall, greening the educational institution has become an important issue as the future decision makers are prepared to have commitment to protect and value the environment. Keywords: Environmental awareness, Environmental knowledge, University students, Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………