The Contribution of Students and Educators to Economic Sustainability Based on their Awareness of their Own Role in Economic Development

Abstract

Economic sustainability based on the triple bottom line is not new, but topical in the scientific discussion on the development of economic growth. International organisations globally, together with governments, budget an increase in funding for education as the main tool for sustainable annual economic growth. On the other hand, it is difficult to measure the outcome of financial effort, as it is an intangible asset. The current research is based on interviews with 20 professors and 20 students at Klaipėda University and LCC International University, to learn how they understand their role in economic development, and to verify the dependency of their desire to contribute more to their awareness. The findings of the qualitative research show that productivity by both students and educators depends on their awareness of their economic role. On the other hand, as the study shows the limitation of participants’ perception of their economic role, its promotion is suggested.