Green Campus: Relationship Between Students’ Preferences Towards Sustainable Facilities and Their Choice of University

Mooi, Shu Jiuan (2024) Green Campus: Relationship Between Students’ Preferences Towards Sustainable Facilities and Their Choice of University. Final Year Project (Bachelor), Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology.

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Abstract

Higher education now places a significant priority on sustainability, thanks to the worsening global climate catastrophe. Students today are more concerned about the environment and look for educational institutions that reflect their values. This study looked into how students choose sustainable campuses and colleges based on the influence of sustainable facilities. The quantitative approach was utilised in the study, which involved delivering a questionnaire (in google form) to 376 students from various levels at Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TARUMT - Kuala Lumpur Main Campus). The survey looked into the interrelationships between sustainable development, student preferences and university choices. Additionally, a stress-free college atmosphere helps lessen the strain brought on by academic endeavours. Students' preferences and their choice of university may be influenced by sustainable facilities including green roofs, solar electricity, energy-efficient systems, and eco-conscious design aspects. The objectives of this study include identifying the key sustainable facilities that students prefer, analysing the relationship between these preferences and institution choice, and evaluating the impacts of these facilities on students. Based on nthe results, campus shuttles and HVAC systems that prioritise indoor air quality were students' top choices for sustainable facilities, followed by solar energy, cafeterias serving organic meals, and daylight harvesting systems. Moreover, students' preferences for sustainable campus facilities were positively connected with their choice of institution. The research also discovered a significant link between students' physical and mental health, as well as their academic performance, with campus buses or shuttles and HVAC systems that focus on indoor air quality having the biggest impact on students' mental health, and sustainable facilities that affect physical health, such as bike-friendly initiatives, campus kitchen uses local organic products, and organic food cafeterias. Furthermore, students believe that campus kitchen uses local organic products, organic food cafeteria, and indoor air quality will have impact on their academic performances. The study's findings are anticipated to offer insightful advice to institutions looking to improve their sustainability programmes and draw in students who respect environmental responsibility. Facilities that are sustainable can have a good impact on student satisfaction, academic achievement, and general well-being. Furthermore, this research can act as a starting point for future investigations on students' preferences for ecologically friendly facilities while choosing universities. In conclusion, this study aims to close the knowledge gap on how sustainable facilities affect students' decisions about where to attend school and their general well-being. The findings can help colleges design campuses that are friendlier to students and the environment while increasing sustainability in higher education.