Environmental awareness among engineering students: Education for sustainability

Abstract

Climate change is one of the greatest global challenges, with particularly severe impacts on highly vulnerable countries such as Honduras, where climate risks affect the economy, food security, and social well-being. In this context, higher education, and particularly engineering education, is key to promoting sustainable development through professionals with environmental awareness and responsible decision-making skills. The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between environmental education, environmental perception, and pro-environmental actions among university students in engineering programs at the Technological University Center of Honduras. The research was conducted using a quantitative approach, with a non-experimental, descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional design. A structured survey, adapted from validated instruments with high reliability (Cronbach's α = 0.902), was administered to a probabilistic sample of 435 students studying computer engineering, electronics, logistics management, and environmental and development management at the Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, and La Ceiba campuses. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson's nonparametric chi-square test. The results show that students have a medium-high environmental awareness, with concern for sea and air pollution and urban waste. However, pro-environmental actions are concentrated in low-impact domestic practices, evidencing a gap between perception and behavior. Significant associations were identified between environmental education, age, and academic year. This highlights the need to incorporate subjects into the curriculum of engineering programs and to foster learning spaces where good environmental practices are promoted from each area of ​​the science studied, and in this way contribute to the sustainable development of Honduras.