Longitudinal analysis of the environmental literacy of undergraduate students in Eastern Taiwan

Abstract

Although higher education is crucial for training future professionals to deal with environmental challenges, there have been few longitudinal studies exploring how university students’ academic major influences their environmental literacy. This study identifies significant differences in environmental literacy among students from different colleges at a public comprehensive university in eastern Taiwan, both at the onset and towards the end of their studies. This analysis also shows how undergraduate students’ environmental literacy changes over time. It was found that freshman students in different colleges had similar environmental literacy levels except for science and engineering students. But after four years the environmental literacy gap between seniors in management and non-management students became obvious. In addition, seniors’ environmental literacy generally decreased or remained the same as that in their freshman year. The results suggest that to foster environmentally responsible citizens, educators in higher education should put more effort on cooperating with non-formal environmental education programs and connecting their teaching with environmental issues, action strategies, and inspiring visions. Finally, implications for program developers and policymakers in higher education are discussed.

Keywords:

• Longitudinal study
• environmental literacy
• academic major
• survey

Acknowledgments

This paper is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Robert Earl Roth, who passed away while this paper was being peer-reviewed. We are grateful to him for his guidance and inspiration for both our professional careers and lives. Thank you, Dr. Roth, we will continue to work hard to pass on your legacy.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes on contributors

Chung-Ting Pan is a PhD student in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, College of Environmental Studies, at National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan. His research interests include program evaluation and hope for environmental engagement.

Shih-Jang Hsu is a professor in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, College of Environmental Studies, at National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan. His main research interests are assessment of environmental literacy, significant life experiences fostering environmental action, program development and evaluation at nature centres, and effects of undergraduate environmental education programs on environmental action and associated variables.

Additional information

Funding

Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan.