Assessment of Sustainability Literacy for Academic and Administrative Staff at UNS
Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) implements an institutional assessment tool to systematically evaluate sustainability literacy, awareness, and engagement among its academic and administrative staff as part of its Green Campus initiative.
The assessment is conducted through a structured digital survey instrument developed within the research framework titled Economic Valuation of Green Campus Management. The instrument is designed based on internationally recognized sustainability indicators, particularly those aligned with UI GreenMetric categories, including:
- Setting and Infrastructure
- Energy and Climate Change
- Waste
- Water
- Transportation
- Education and Research
The instrument uses a standardized Likert scale (1–5) to ensure consistent measurement of understanding, agreement, and engagement across respondents. It is designed as a multi-dimensional assessment tool that captures sustainability literacy beyond basic knowledge, including:
- Conceptual understanding of sustainability and Green Campus principles (e.g., level of understanding of institutional sustainability goals and programs)
- Awareness and knowledge of sustainability initiatives implemented by the university
- Exposure to sustainability-related learning, including integration into curriculum, training, and academic activities
- Engagement and behavioral aspects, such as participation in sustainability programs and use of green campus facilities
- Critical thinking and perception, including the ability to evaluate sustainability practices and their effectiveness within the university context
The survey instrument includes structured statements that assess, among others:
- respondents’ level of understanding of the Green Campus vision and programs
- integration of sustainability into teaching, research, and academic activities
- participation in sustainability-related training, workshops, and initiatives
- the role of sustainability in supporting innovation, research, and problem-solving
- the extent to which sustainability is embedded in institutional practices and learning environments
Data collection is conducted using a digital platform (Google Form), ensuring accessibility and broad participation from both academic and administrative staff across the university.
In 2025, the assessment involved 290 respondents representing different groups within the academic community. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, One-Way ANOVA, and post hoc tests to identify variations in sustainability literacy, awareness, and engagement across staff categories.
The results indicate varying levels of sustainability understanding and engagement among academic and administrative staff as well as other personnel, highlighting the need for more targeted sustainability capacity-building initiatives. These findings are systematically used as evidence-based input to:
- improve the design and delivery of sustainability training programs
- strengthen institutional policies and strategies related to Green Campus implementation
- enhance staff participation and engagement in sustainability initiatives
- support continuous improvement of sustainability integration in academic and operational practices
This assessment demonstrates UNS’s commitment to implementing a structured, evidence-based approach to measuring and improving sustainability literacy as part of its continuous institutional development.
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