Research Article

Level of knowledge and information sources as predictors of sustainable development goals among students

John Mark R. Asio 1 2 *
More Detail
1 Gordon College, Olongapo City, PHILIPPINES2 La Consolacion University Philippines, Malolos City, Bulacan, PHILIPPINES* Corresponding Author
Eurasian Journal of Science and Environmental Education, 6(1), 2026, 73-81, https://doi.org/10.30935/ejsee/18493
Submitted: 18 August 2025, Published: 29 April 2026
OPEN ACCESS   16 Views   16 Downloads
Download Full Text (PDF)

ABSTRACT

The sustainable development goals (SDGs) have been around for quite some time already. However, there are still some college students who are still unable to appreciate their significance. This study aims to analyze the students’ level of knowledge, information sources, and the impact of personal life on SDGs. Using a descriptive correlation research design, the proponent gathered essential data from 208 voluntary students who were conveniently chosen the for the study. They are students enrolled in a publicly operated tertiary education in Olongapo City, Philippines, during the academic year of 2022-2023. The proponent also used an adopted and modified instrument to achieve the specific objectives of the study. Then, the gathered data underwent descriptive and inferential statistical analysis like frequency, percentage, mean, t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson-r and linear regression with the aid of a statistical software, Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. Results show that the respondents were “moderately knowledgeable” about the 17 SDGs. At the same time, they also “moderately agree” on the list of SDG information sources. Also, they believe that the SDGs “have an impact” on them. Inferential statistics also showed significant differences in terms of gender, residency, college, and GPA. In terms of relationships, both students’ level of knowledge and source of information are significantly associated with the SDGs’ impact on the respondents. Linear regression also confirms that the information source predicts the SDGs’ impact on students. In conclusion, the study found variations and relationships that can benefit the students, the institutions, and other stakeholders to deepen their understanding of the SDGs.

CITATION (APA)

Asio, J. M. R. (2026). Level of knowledge and information sources as predictors of sustainable development goals among students. Eurasian Journal of Science and Environmental Education, 6(1), 73-81. https://doi.org/10.30935/ejsee/18493

REFERENCES

  1. Afroz, N., & Ilham, Z. (2020). Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice of university students towards sustainable development goals (SDGs). The Journal of Indonesia Sustainable Development Planning, 1(1), 31-44. https://doi.org/10.46456/jisdep.v1i1.12
  2. Alimehmeti, G., Fia, M., & Paletta, A. (2024). The sustainability-to-employment pipeline: The impact of SDG-related curricula on graduates’ employability. Studies in Higher Education, 49(12), 2328-2342. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2023.2299328
  3. Alvarez-Risco, A., Del-Aguila-Arcentales, S., Rosen, M. A., García-Ibarra, V., Maycotte-Felkel, S., & Martínez-Toro, G. M. (2021). Expectations and interests of university students in COVID-19 times about sustainable development goals: Evidence from Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, and Peru. Sustainability, 13(6), Article 3306. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13063306
  4. Arruda-Filho, N. P., Hino, M. C., & Przybylowicz-Beuter, B. S. (2019). Including SDGs in the education of globally responsible leaders. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 20(5), 856-870. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-01-2019-0032
  5. Bezeljak, P., Scheuch, M., & Torkar, G. (2020). Understanding of sustainability and education for sustainable development among pre-service biology teachers. Sustainability, 12(17), Article 6892. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12176892
  6. Brysbaert, M. (2019). How many participants do we have to include in properly powered experiments? A tutorial of power analysis with reference tables. Journal of Cognition, 2(1), Article 16. https://doi.org/10.5334/joc.72
  7. Cachero, C., Grao-Gil, O., Pérez-delHoyo, R., Ordóñez-García, M. C., Andújar-Montoya, M. D., Lillo-Ródenas, M. Á., & Torres, R. (2023). Perception of the sustainable development goals among university students: A multidisciplinary perspective. Journal of Cleaner Production, 429, Article 139682. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.139682
  8. Chankseliani, M., & McCowan, T. (2021). Higher education and the sustainable development goals. Higher Education, 81, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-020-00652-w
  9. De la Poza, E., Merello, P., Barberá, A., & Celani, A. (2021). Universities’ reporting on SDGs: Using THE impact rankings to model and measure their contribution to sustainability. Sustainability, 13(4), Article 2038. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13042038
  10. Dlamini, S., Block, E. K., & Mathibela, N. (2023). Knowledge of and attitudes towards sustainable development goals among adults in South Africa. South African Geographical Journal, 105(3), 384-401. https://doi.org/10.1080/03736245.2022.2148723
  11. ElMassah, S., & Mohieldin, M. (2020). Digital transformation and localizing the sustainable development goals (SDGs), Ecological Economics, 169, Article 106490. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2019.106490
  12. Espino-Díaz, L., Luque-González, R., Fernández-Caminero, G., & Álvarez-Castillo, J. (2025). Exploring the impact of project-based learning on sustainable development goals awareness and university students’ growth. European Journal of Educational Research, 14(1), 283-296. https://doi.org/10.12973/eu-jer.14.1.283
  13. García-González, E., Jiménez-Fontana, R., & Azcárate, P. (2020). Education for sustainability and the sustainable development goals: Pre-service teachers’ perceptions and knowledge. Sustainability, 12(18), Article 7741. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12187741
  14. Ike, M., Donovan, J. D., Topple, C., & Masli, E. K. (2019). The process of selecting and prioritizing corporate sustainability issues: Insights for achieving the sustainable development goals. Journal of Cleaner Production, 236, Article 117661. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.117661
  15. Jati, H. F., Darsono, S. N. A. C., Hermawan, T., Yudhi, W. A. S., & Rahman, F. F. (2019). Awareness and knowledge assessment of sustainable development goals among university students. Jurnal Ekonomi & Studi Pembangunan, 20(2), 163-175. https://doi.org/10.18196/jesp.20.2.5022
  16. Leiva-Brondo, M., Lajara-Camilleri, N., Vidal-Meló, A., Atarés, A., & Lull, C. (2022). Spanish university students’ awareness and perception of sustainable development goals and sustainability literacy. Sustainability, 14(8), Article 4552. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14084552
  17. Manolis, E. N., & Manoli, E. N. (2021). Raising awareness of the sustainable development goals through ecological projects in higher education. Journal of Cleaner Production, 279, Article 123614. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.123614
  18. Mawonde, A., & Togo, M. (2019). Implementation of SDGs at the University of South Africa. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 20(5), 932-950. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-04-2019-0156
  19. Novieastari, E., Pujasari, H., Abdul Rahman, L. O., Ganefianty, A., & Rerung, M. P. (2022). Knowledge, perception, and awareness about sustainable development goals (SDGs) among students of a public university in Indonesia. International Journal of Health Promotion and Education, 60(4), 195-203. https://doi.org/10.1080/14635240.2022.2066557
  20. Oltra-Badenes, R., Guerola-Navarro, V., Gil-Gómez, J.-A., & Botella-Carrubi, D. (2023). Design and implementation of teaching-learning activities focused on improving the knowledge, the awareness and the perception of the relationship between the SDGs and the future profession of university students. Sustainability, 15(6), Article 5324. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065324
  21. Pallant, E., Choate, B., & Haywood, B. (2020). How do you teach undergraduate university students to contribute to the UN SDGs 2030? In W. Leal Filho (Ed.), Universities as living labs for sustainable development. World sustainability series (pp. 69-85). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15604-6_5
  22. Reyes, C., & Arboneda, A. (2022). Measuring the distance to 2030 targets: Can the Philippines achieve the SDGs? In V. Anbumozhi, K. Kalirajan, & F. Kimura (Eds.), Sustainable development goals and pandemic planning (pp. 373-411). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-6734-3_8
  23. Ribeiro, L. M., Miranda, F., Themudo, C., Gonçalves, H., Bringle, R. G., Rosário, P., & Aramburuzabala, P. (2023). Educating for the sustainable development goals through service-learning: University students’ perspectives about the competences developed. Frontiers in Education, 8, Article 1144134. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2023.1144134
  24. Stangor, C., & Walinga, J. (2019). Introduction to psychology. BC Open Textbooks. https://www.saskoer.ca/introductiontopsychology/chapter/psychologists-use-descriptive-correlational-and-experimental-research-designs-to-understand-behavior/
  25. Togo, M., & Gandidzanwa, C.P. (2021). The role of Education 5.0 in accelerating the implementation of SDGs and challenges encountered at the University of Zimbabwe. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 22(7), 1520-1535. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-05-2020-0158
  26. Yuan, X., Yu, L., & Wu, H. (2021). Awareness of sustainable development goals among students from a Chinese senior high school. Education Sciences, 11(9), Article 458. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci11090458
  27. Zaleniene, I., & Pereira, P. (2021). Higher education for sustainability: A global perspective. Geography and Sustainability, 2(2), 99-106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geosus.2021.05.001
  28. Zamora-Polo, F., Sánchez-Martín, J., Corrales-Serrano, M., & Espejo-Antúnez, L. (2019). What do university students know about sustainable development goals? A realistic approach to the reception of this UN program amongst the youth population. Sustainability, 11(13), Article 3533. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11133533