Title: Assessing students perceptions to sustainability practices at National University of Malaysia (UKM)

Authors: Husayn Idi Kwami; Adi Irfan Che-Ani; Nik Lukman Nik Ibrahim; Mohd Zulhanif Abd-Razak

Addresses: Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia; Department of Architecture, College of Environmental Studies, Kaduna Polytechnic, Nigeria ' Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia ' Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia ' Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia

Abstract: The paper investigated student's perceptions of sustainability at the National University of Malaysia. Result of the questionnaire administered on 228 students showed that perceptions to sustainability practice based on Likert is 3.19/5.0 with 54.2% on sustainability tracking assessment and rating systems which implies that students have fair sustainability assessment of the school. To maintain the tempo, move to gold or platinum status, students positive attitude to sustainability needs to be upheld. Because students play important roles in reducing energy, water, waste and help lower operating cost in the school now and in the society after graduating. The study therefore concluded that in order to mitigate future negative foot print on campus hostels, positive attitude to sustainability practices should be a priority since designing and pecifying the best facility does not necessarily guarantee optimal operational performance without a positive user attitude.

Keywords: positive attitudes; sustainability culture; environmental sustainability; sustainable universities; student perceptions; Malaysia; sustainability practices; energy reduction; water reduction; waste reduction; operating costs; sustainable development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2015.068603

International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development, 2015 Vol.14 No.2, pp.143 - 153

Received: 26 May 2014
Accepted: 11 Sep 2014

Published online: 09 May 2015 *

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