Wrocław Tech led the working group within the Unite! alliance aimed at investigating student needs regarding sustainability. The report, based on surveys conducted across nine European technical universities, sheds new light on how young engineers want to learn and live on “green campuses”.
The study, involving over 200 students, covered education, research, and campus operations. The results are clear: the academic community expects their universities to be leaders in climate action and is ready to participate actively.
One of the report’s key findings is a gap in curricula. Although student environmental awareness is high, approximately 75% of respondents indicated that current educational content regarding sustainability is insufficient or limited.
Interestingly, students do not want another mandatory general lecture. Instead, the top desired changes include:
As many as 62% of respondents consider it crucial to include Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in learning outcomes across all study programs.
When asked about campus management priorities, students were less likely to point to abstract “GHG emission reductions” and more likely to choose tangible, visible changes. The three top actions selected by students are:
Importantly, students view the “green campus” holistically – initiatives supporting mental health and well-being also ranked high on the priority list.
The report also identified major obstacles to implementing the green transition. According to respondents, these are primarily a lack of funding (indicated by 71 people), as well as insufficient community engagement and administrative hurdles.
Despite these difficulties, the report carries an optimistic message. Over half of the students (54%) declared a willingness to personally engage in green initiatives on campus, e.g., through volunteering or attending workshops.
The findings from the report led by Wrocław Tech will now serve to develop concrete action plans within the Unite! “Open Innovation Community for the Green Transition” package. The goal is to translate the student voice into real changes – from modifying study programs to investing in campus infrastructure.
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