Assessing students’ environmental literacy on sustainability through Knowledge -Attitude-Practice (K-A-P) approach in the Ecosystem Discovery Journey (EDJ) Programme

Abstract

A successful transition towards sustainability in the university context requires incorporation of three important aspects based on knowledge, beliefs, values and actions among all stakeholders, particularly students, through environmental education and literacy. Hence, this study aims to assess the level of environmental literacy, encompassing knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of undergraduate students enrolled in the LMCP1522: Ecosystem Discovery Journey (EDJ) course in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. A quantitative study was conducted, involving a survey and structured questionnaires completed by 108 students, also known as Eco-volunteers (Ekorelawan). The collected data were analysed by applying the descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings showed a high level of environmental knowledge (94.4%), positive environmental attitude (56.5%) and fair/moderate environmental practice (69.5%) among students. The study also found positive and significant relationships between environmental knowledge, attitude and practice among the students through Spearman correlation test. The analysis discovered that students acquired environmental knowledge through electronic media, particularly social media as their primary source. The findings of the study illustrated a general depiction of environmental literacy level among students and provided general direction for policy discussion with respect to environmental education in Malaysian higher education institutions.