Measuring Environmental Awareness and Sensitivity of University Students: The Case of a Faculty of Architecture and Design

Considering the growing environmental challenges faced today, the need to raise awareness among younger generations about environmental issues is increasingly emphasized. As future leaders, university students are expected to cultivate a sensitivity to these concerns, making education during their academic years pivotal. This study aims to assess the levels of environmental awareness and sensitivity among students enrolled in a faculty of architecture and design. Additionally, it seeks to identify the factors influencing these levels. Conducted as a case study, this research involved 318 student participants. The questionnaire utilized in this study contains a total of 43 statements comprise environmental behaviors, environmental sensitivity, environmental problems, and environmental awareness. The findings reveal that Landscape Architecture students exhibit significantly higher averages in most of the dimensions when compared to Interior Architecture students. Furthermore, female participants displayed significantly higher averages than male participants in the dimensions of ‘Environmental Behaviors’ and ‘Full-Scale’. Higher averages in ‘Environmental Behaviors’, ‘Environmental Awareness’, and ‘Full-Scale’ were associated with increasing age. Additionally, analysis of family residence showed rural residents scored higher on environmental sensitivity and environmental problems. Grade-level comparisons indicated that while no significant differences were observed across grades for ‘Environmental Behaviors’ and ‘Environmental Sensitivity’, first-year students exhibited higher mean ranks in these two dimensions compared to their other subscale scores. In contrast, significant differences emerged for ‘Environmental Problems’ and ‘Environmental Awareness’, with first-year students scoring notably lower than second- and fourth-year students, highlighting the positive influence of academic progression on students’ perception of environmental issues and overall awareness.