Abstract
Presents the results of reasearch aimed at determining the level of environmental awareness among high school students and 200 students of University of Sannio. The components of the two groups have been chosen in order to be as heterogeneous as possible referring to social extraction, cultural level and age. The results have demonstrated that the establishment of the Environmental Education and Ecology Courses has had a positive effect on the environmental awareness and ecotourism involvement. This has encouraged the foundation of the Cultural, Environmental and Integrated Management of Coastal Line Academy in Anacapri, as a reference point for high training and formation. Consideration on the link between training on sustainable development and a focus on tourism is given.
Article Type:
Research paper
Keyword(s):
Ecology; Sustainability; Tourism; Italy.
Journal:
International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education
Volume:
2
Number:
3
Year:
2001
pp:
238-249
Copyright ©
MCB UP Ltd
ISSN:
1467-6370
Introduction
In order to achieve the goal of making economic growth compatible with environmental protection, it is important to consider an individual’s behaviour. An individual’s life style is influenced via an ecological conscience suggested by a more or less rambling environmental sensibility (which ensues from correct information and formation).
In order to assess this trend, research has been carried out by means of a questionnaire distributed to young people belonging to different ages and to different school levels (secondary school and university) in Benevento, a city of Southern Italy, where the Sannio University is located (Figure 1). This methodology was followed in order to make clear the existing interactions among the social, cultural and environmental influences and the level of environmental sensibility in the light of the necessity to promote the environmental and cultural tourism that is the most important economic activity for the development of Southern Italy and, above all, of the countryside and rural area, like Sannio.
Methodology
The test (see Appendix) is made up of questions about basic ecological information and questions about the degree of decisional capacity to manage the territory and promote the environmental tourism development. Tourism has been chosen as a focal point in the framework of sustainability, since it is an important driving force in the Sannio region.
Two school levels were involved in the study:
1.(1) 200 students (16-18 years old) from a Benevento secondary school.
2.(2) 200 students (20-22 years old) from Benevento’s university (Faculty of Economy, Faculty of Science and Faculty of Law).
This research has been possible by the establishment, in the University of Sannio, of the Faculty of Environmental Economy, which includes courses in Ecology, Environmental Education, Environmental Statistics, Environmental Law, Environmental Economy. In particular, Environmental Education is an obligatory course for each Faculty of Sannio University. This is in order to give a specialised training offer in the context of environmental issues. Therefore an ecological basic formation increases the environmental awareness and sensibility not only for the students attending the Faculty of Science but also for all students of Sannio University who will be the members of the new management class.
In such context, particularly for the Faculty of Environmental Economy, it aims to form internal areas of tourist management, giving most importance to the development of environmental and cultural tourism. In the light of the new economy, this activity will encourage employment and, at the same time, protect the environmental and cultural heritage. The Southern Regions of Italy, especially the countryside, did not enjoy much economic development by the arising of industries, but, to the same level, they have not been contaminated. For this reason in a sustainability perspective, they can change from a under-developmental condition to a new employment and richer condition safeguarding the life quality.
Results
The students of the high school reveal less environmental sensitivity than university students. As shown in Figure 2 the former present a lower level of environmental awareness than the latter. By the introduction of the Ecology Course in the Economy Faculty the university students have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of the environmental items and know the important interrelationships among organisms. This helps them to assume correct behaviour and fosters respect for the environment. The positive responses derived from studying the ecology matter will be more effectiveness as more of the high school students are prepared.
Moreover, the environmental awareness of each student category has been characterised and distinguished in three components: ecotourism involvement, management capacity and environmental sensibility (Figure 3). As expected, the highest level of management capacity and ecotourism involvement is shown by the university students