THE RELATIONSHIP AMONG STUDENTS’ KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND BEHAVIORS REGARDING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: A STUDY AT UNIVERSITYES IN THE MEKONG DELTA

THE RELATIONSHIP AMONG STUDENTS’ KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND BEHAVIORS REGARDING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: A STUDY AT UNIVERSITYES IN THE MEKONG DELTA

Nguyen Ngoc Tho* thongn@ueh.edu.vn University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City - Campus in Vinh Long 01B Nguyen Trung Truc street, Tan Hanh ward, Vinh Long province, Vietnam
Nguyen Hong Nga nganh@ueh.edu.vn University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City - Campus in Vinh Long 01B Nguyen Trung Truc street, Tan Hanh ward, Vinh Long province, Vietnam
Summary: 
Although many studies have documented the role of higher education in sustainable development, a lack of empirical evidence linking student awareness to universityes’ actual contributions in environmentally sensitive areas like the Mekong Delta remains a major research gap. This study uses the KAP model to examine the relationships among students’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors, as well as the role of universityes in sustainable development. Data were collected from 935 students through a survey and analyzed with SmartPLS 4. The results indicate that knowledge significantly influences sustainable attitudes and behaviors, along with university involvement in sustainable activities. However, a surprising finding is that attitudes are not a determinant of behavior nor a driving force for university contributions. Notably, university impact on shaping students’ sustainable behavior remains limited. This finding provides a crucial foundation for higher education institutions to rethink their governance and training strategies to bridge the gap between awareness and the practical application of sustainability.
Keywords: 
Mekong Delta
higher education
KAP model
sustainable development
students.
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