Highlighting awareness regarding sustainability and local initiatives among Saudi Arabian higher education students

Abstract

In light of Saudi Vision 2030 which pursues to reduce the country’s dependence on oil revenues, tackle climate change and achieve sustainability in all sectors, and given the importance of the education sector in preparing a generation capable of supporting the economic and environmental transformation that the Kingdom aspires to, the current study set out to explore the awareness of higher education students regarding sustainability and local initiatives in Saudi Arabia. The study adopts an interpretive model and qualitative research techniques, especially semi-structured interviews, to gather rich data from 16 students attending 8 universities across different regions of Saudi Arabia. The data were analysed using the NVivo software package. Many issues relating to sustainability were discussed, such as environmental, social and economic issues. The results revealed the presence of knowledge gaps which require greater development in the curriculum. The study recommends strengthening partnerships between universities and local initiatives, curriculum integration and personal participation as the most influential factors in enhancing the level of understanding and awareness among education students in Saudi Arabia. higher