Students' perception of environmental sustainability (ES) exercises at higher education institutions (HEIs) in Bangladesh

PurposeEnvironmental sustainability (ES) is a vital issue in recent times as higher education institutions (HEIs) are expected to have significant environmental impacts. This study aims to explore the ES attitudes in three different HEIs in Bangladesh based on student perception.Design/methodology/approachPrimary data from 200 respondents of 3 HEIs through a questionnaire survey has been collected. The questionnaire was designed to collect data on six criteria: awareness, concern, attitude, willingness to participate and recommendations about campus ES. Pearson's chi-square (χ2), Fisher's exact test statistic, one-way analysis of variance and Spearman's correlation have been used to measure difference and correlation in SPSS.FindingsThough students are aware of ES, only 21% are concerned about the issue. In total, 68% of respondents agreed that campus ES is not a responsibility of authority alone and that others have a role to play; 24% of students do not even know about recycling practices; and 73% of the respondents suggested that knowledge-sharing seminars/conferences could be the best way to improve the campus's ES.Practical implicationsA top-down planning approach excludes students from decision-making and direct engagement in Sustainable Campus building. Including student perceptions in planning assists policymakers and smooths the path to a more sustainable campus.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the existing literature by providing insight into students' perceptions of sustainability practices in the campus environment.