Integrating Sustainability within University Sustainability …
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ings of, and their attitudes towards, sustainable development and its related concepts
and issues (Kagawa 2007). Majority of the respondents thought that sustainability
is “a good thing.” This indicated that their positive response was correlated with the
degree of their familiarity to the concepts of sustainability (Kagawa 2007).
To review the implementation of sustainability programmes in a certain university,
research on stakeholders’ perceptions needs to be conducted. Therefore, to obtain the
students’ perceptions on MSc SCC programme, and its effectiveness in conveying the
education of sustainable development, and to ensure that the delivery goals are met,
this research was conducted to undertake an in-depth interview with seven graduate
students from the MSc SCC programme, selected using purposive sampling. The
data obtained was analysed using inductive content analysis method.
4 Findings and Discussion
To obtain the students’ perceptions on MSc SCC programme, the data obtained from
in-depth interviews were analysed using an inductive content analysis:
(a) Is the MSc SCC programme that you are studying at USM effective in
delivering the concept of sustainable development?
In responding to this question, Respondent 2 answered as follows:
MSC SCC is effective in giving understanding about sustainability in cities where all stakeholders need to bear all the responsibilities to ensure a sustainable life. (Respondent 2,
female, aged 23)
Responding to the same question, Respondent 4 said:
Yes, this course which i took gave me a lot of information about the sustainable development
relating with my own self and environment surroundings, as well as giving an impact towards
my daily practices. (Respondent 4, female, aged 28)
Respondent 5, reacted to the question saying:
I think this programme is effective in conveying the information about sustainable development. I became more focused about the issues pertaining to sustainability surrounding
my neighbourhood. For example, I have established an action unit among residents in my
neighbourhood to prevent house-breaking crimes. This action unit was my manifestation as
an outcome from my following my study during MSc SCC. Here the importance of social
participation needs to be emphasised by the local communities. Nowadays, residents are
more concerned and more alert about the house-breaking crimes and they start to build a
teamwork with one another for the mutual safety. (Respondent 5, male, aged 43)
Respondent 7 expressed his opinion saying:
In my opinion, MSc SCC course is a good platform to understanding the issues and social
problems in cities based on various contexts such as community development, poverty, community responding towards infrastructure development, and so on. This course also discussed
various suggestions for solving problems pertaining to these issues. However, the solutions
need to be seen in the context of the locality. In the context of practising the sustainability
509
ings of, and their attitudes towards, sustainable development and its related concepts
and issues (Kagawa 2007). Majority of the respondents thought that sustainability
is “a good thing.” This indicated that their positive response was correlated with the
degree of their familiarity to the concepts of sustainability (Kagawa 2007).
To review the implementation of sustainability programmes in a certain university,
research on stakeholders’ perceptions needs to be conducted. Therefore, to obtain the
students’ perceptions on MSc SCC programme, and its effectiveness in conveying the
education of sustainable development, and to ensure that the delivery goals are met,
this research was conducted to undertake an in-depth interview with seven graduate
students from the MSc SCC programme, selected using purposive sampling. The
data obtained was analysed using inductive content analysis method.
4 Findings and Discussion
To obtain the students’ perceptions on MSc SCC programme, the data obtained from
in-depth interviews were analysed using an inductive content analysis:
(a) Is the MSc SCC programme that you are studying at USM effective in
delivering the concept of sustainable development?
In responding to this question, Respondent 2 answered as follows:
MSC SCC is effective in giving understanding about sustainability in cities where all stakeholders need to bear all the responsibilities to ensure a sustainable life. (Respondent 2,
female, aged 23)
Responding to the same question, Respondent 4 said:
Yes, this course which i took gave me a lot of information about the sustainable development
relating with my own self and environment surroundings, as well as giving an impact towards
my daily practices. (Respondent 4, female, aged 28)
Respondent 5, reacted to the question saying:
I think this programme is effective in conveying the information about sustainable development. I became more focused about the issues pertaining to sustainability surrounding
my neighbourhood. For example, I have established an action unit among residents in my
neighbourhood to prevent house-breaking crimes. This action unit was my manifestation as
an outcome from my following my study during MSc SCC. Here the importance of social
participation needs to be emphasised by the local communities. Nowadays, residents are
more concerned and more alert about the house-breaking crimes and they start to build a
teamwork with one another for the mutual safety. (Respondent 5, male, aged 43)
Respondent 7 expressed his opinion saying:
In my opinion, MSc SCC course is a good platform to understanding the issues and social
problems in cities based on various contexts such as community development, poverty, community responding towards infrastructure development, and so on. This course also discussed
various suggestions for solving problems pertaining to these issues. However, the solutions
need to be seen in the context of the locality. In the context of practising the sustainability