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The Impact of Education for Sustainable Development on Romanian Economics and Business Students’ Behavior

Author

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  • Liana Badea

    (Department of Economic Doctrines and Communication, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 6 Romana Sq., District 1, 010734 Bucharest, Romania)

  • George Laurențiu Șerban-Oprescu

    (Department of Economic Doctrines and Communication, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 6 Romana Sq., District 1, 010734 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Silvia Dedu

    (Department of Applied Mathematics, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 6 Romana Sq., District 1, 010734 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Grigore Ioan Piroșcă

    (Department of Economic Doctrines and Communication, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 6 Romana Sq., District 1, 010734 Bucharest, Romania)

Abstract

Education for sustainable development (ESD) has presented long-lasting interest for researchers and policy makers. Despite a significant body of research, more in depth empirical studies are required for a better understanding of how sustainable development goals are applied in higher education and how sustainable behavior could be shaped via ESD. The need for this kind of research arises from, first, the scarceness of existing studies that explore economic and business higher education, and, second, the necessity to properly assess the connection between ESD principles and students’ behavior. Following this rationale, the present paper aims to provide an overview of how students’ sustainable behaviors are shaped via their perception of sustainable campus initiatives, teaching staff involvement and curricula. Statistical and econometric analysis applied on data collected via a survey on students from Bucharest University of Economic Studies (N = 1253) provides findings on the extent to which the awareness of sustainable development-specific issues acquired through education leads to sustainable behavior among students. According to the results, we argue that an increasing share of sustainable development topics combined with teaching staff involvement to raise awareness of sustainability issues are crucial to students’ sustainable behavior. However, on-campus actions are unlikely to change behavior unless they are optional rather than compulsory. Our findings ratify that, since education is one of the main drivers of sustainable development, there is an urgent need for coherence in shaping higher education according to sustainability issues.

Suggested Citation

  • Liana Badea & George Laurențiu Șerban-Oprescu & Silvia Dedu & Grigore Ioan Piroșcă, 2020. "The Impact of Education for Sustainable Development on Romanian Economics and Business Students’ Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-17, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:19:p:8169-:d:423426
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Gamze Sart, 2022. "Impact of Higher Education and Globalization on Sustainable Development in the New EU Member States," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-13, September.
    4. Elisabeta-Emilia Halmaghi & Diana-Elena Ranf & Dorel Badea, 2023. "Interdisciplinary Exploration between Organizational Culture and Sustainable Development Management Applied to the Romanian Higher Education Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-17, July.
    5. Claudia E. Stoian & Simona Șimon & Vasile Gherheș, 2021. "A Comparative Analysis of the Use of the Concept of Sustainability in the Romanian Top Universities’ Strategic Plans," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-34, September.
    6. Andreea Mirica & Ionela-Roxana Petcu & Liliana Catrina & Roxana-Violeta Partas-Ciolan & Adina-Andreea Neamtu, 2023. "Sustainability Competences In Romanian Higher Education," Annals - Economy Series, Constantin Brancusi University, Faculty of Economics, vol. 1, pages 105-113, February.
    7. Vasile Gherheș & Mariana Cernicova-Buca & Marcela Alina Fărcașiu & Adina Palea, 2021. "Romanian Students’ Environment-Related Routines during COVID-19 Home Confinement: Water, Plastic, and Paper Consumption," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-24, August.
    8. Moataz Elmassri & María Luisa Pajuelo & Abdulhadi Ali Alahbabi & Ahmed Mohamed Alali & Moufak Alzitawi & Hamdan Hussain & Khaled Alnabhani & Tariq Elrazaz, 2023. "Student Perceptions of Pedagogical Approaches to Integrating the SDG 8 into Business School Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-22, September.
    9. Bogdan Fleaca & Elena Fleaca & Sanda Maiduc, 2023. "Framing Teaching for Sustainability in the Case of Business Engineering Education: Process-Centric Models and Good Practices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-19, January.

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