Abstract:

Sustainability, as the basic developmental direction, assumes a continuous synchronization of decisions and solutions in the area of the environment, economy, and social environment, which demands a consensus on all levels and dedication by all social groups. An informed and aware population is a prerequisite to achieve sustainable development as the basis of good management, decision-making, promoting democracy and achieving better quality of life. Therefore, a higher degree of participation is required in the area of youth education on sustainable development in order for them to better know the principles and the process of planning and decision-making on sustainable development of the communities in which they live, as well as society as a whole. Even though the attitudes and values connected with sustainable development begin to be developed in a very early age, high education institutions have a special responsibility. They, among other things, are held to be in charge of moral responsibility or a social mission in the sense of increasing knowledge, developing values and attitudes concerning sustainable development in the student population.

Therefore, this paper analyses the knowledge, attitudes and values of students at the University of Osijek on the concept of sustainable development. The aim of this research was to find information about the ways of understanding and awareness on sustainable development, as well as the options of implementing the themes of sustainable development in the study programs. It is useful to see what the attitudes of students are, given that they will soon be in a position to influence a large number of people with their work in the environment where they live. The research results show that students see sustainable development as something important, but they do not understand it fully nor can they precisely determine the areas it deals with and that there are differences in understanding the concept of sustainable development between the younger and older examinees. Apart from that, the majority of students do not wield enough knowledge on sustainable development, but they believe that the themes of sustainability need to be implemented within the framework of education.

Keywords:

Sustainability, education on sustainable development, higher education institutions.