What Does Sustainability Mean? Perceptions of Future Professionals across Disciplines

Abstract

Given the negative externalities of the traditional productive system, sustainable development has become a productive alternative that attempts to improve the quality of life of present and future generations. The aim of this research was to understand the degree of perception and knowledge of sustainability of university students attending different courses, who represent future Argentinian professionals. A survey was conducted on a representative sample of those enrolled in the faculties of Agricultural, Economic, and Social Sciences of the National University of Lomas de Zamora, Buenos Aires. The results showed that, in terms of awareness, the environmental dimension of sustainability stands out above the others. Sustainability involves preserving natural resources, favoring biodiversity, reducing environmental risks, and finding a balance between the development of humanity and care for the environment. Only 10% of the respondents identified the three sustainability dimensions contemporaneously, and most of these individuals were not informed through university courses. No substantial differences were found in the knowledge of sustainability among students of different faculties. Universities, as trainers of professionals and leaders, should further develop the subject in their curricula, to improve knowledge of sustainability, so that graduates can better face future professional challenges. Similarly, students should strive to know about sustainability and its components to defend and improve it in all areas of work.

Sustainability infrastructure insights from a campus sustainability survey

“…There are deficits in the areas of social and economic sustainability literacy and practice, as well as compartmentalization of environmental sustainability as discrete and disconnected from social and economic systems. Which is not uncommon, as many people perceive sustainability as only environmental sustainability [35]. These survey findings are also at odds with indigenous relationships with the environment, a conflict that is gaining additional attention at the university as a result of the formal recognition and acknowledgement that the land the University is built on was taken from the Ho-Chunk nation after the treaty of 1832 [36,37].…”

Companies’ actions for more sustainable consumption

“…In 1994, Elkington formulated the three dimensions of sustainability (social, economic, and environmental), which was a significant advance. These are the most widely acknowledged dimensions in academia and the industry, and constitute the Triple Bottom Line (Damico et al, 2022). The social dimension involves treating people fairly and ensuring that employees, stakeholders, and the society in which a business operates treat persons responsibly, ethically, and sustainably.…”

Insights and Next Challenges for the Italian Educational System to Teach Sustainability in a Global Context

“…The Italian situation is similar to that found in other countries when evaluating the same aspects. For example, in an Argentinian study [64] conducted on university students from different fields of study (Agricultural, Economic and Social Sciences), the words most frequently associated with sustainability were "environment", "ecology", "resources", and "care" regardless of educational background. Only a few respondents were able to name the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainability simultaneously.…”