Social Work Students’ Attitudes Towards Pillars of Sustainable Development: the Case of the University of Shkodra, Albania

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to measure the attitudes toward sustainable development among students enrolled in the Bachelor's program in Social Work and to explore the relationship between students' course of study, and their attitudes towards the pillars of sustainable development. Method: This research is a mixed-methods study, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative descriptive approaches. The participants were recruited using a purposive sampling method. The population for the study comprised 104 students in the Bachelor's program in Social Work. It is used ’’Attitudes toward Sustainable Development Scale’’ (ASDS) developed by Biasutti & Frate (2017). Open and closed questions were also incorporated. The data obtained were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The analysis encompassed both descriptive and inferential statistics. A thematic analysis was also conducted. Results and Conclusion: The study concludes that students’ attitudes toward the environment, economy, society, and education components are positive, with a particular emphasis on their attitudes toward society and education. In general, students express a desire to acquire additional knowledge in this field throughout their university education. Research Implications: The study highlights the need to enhance social work education to strengthen students' commitment to sustainable development. Although students have a basic understanding of sustainability, they require more in-depth education. Integrating specialized sustainability topics into the curriculum will better prepare them for professional roles. This approach ensures future social workers can effectively advance sustainable development goals. Originality/Value: The originality of this paper lies in its dual quantitative and qualitative analysis of social work students' attitudes towards sustainable development. It provides valuable insights into the necessity of integrating specialized sustainability education within social work programs. Consequently, it offers a strategic approach to better prepare future social workers to effectively advance sustainable development goals in their professional roles.