Abstract:

There is a large variety of sustainability theories, but they consistently have the same balance column that can guide humanity towards mutual understanding, progress and, above all, towards the preservation of our species in the universe. The economic side of sustainability, the social or societal side and the one regarding the protection of the natural environment are already widely accepted by specialists in the field as the basic coordinates on which humanity can develop in the future with minimal risks related to it. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that there are universities where education has insisted only on the ecological aspects of the sustainability issue. For example, the subjects related to the topic of sustainability in Romanian technical universities/faculties often leave students with the impression that protecting the natural environment is the only goal of sustainable development. To demonstrate this, after presenting the opinions of specialists in the field, the most important results of a research conducted on a sample of students, future engineers, were also selected. The exploratory research carried out in several technical faculties in Romania used questionnaires and interviews with engineering students as instruments. One of the most important conclusions is that academics should put more effort into clarifying the topic of sustainability in the subjects taught to students. Universities and faculties managements should think of a strategy to get teachers to make more frequent connections of the taught lessons/chapters with sustainable development. If cause and effect events that take place in any ecosystem, society or economy can be properly explained, especially their impact, it can provide stronger motivation to consider balanced sustainable options in the future. These options will be the result of properly educated generations and they would not jeopardize any aspect in favor of the other, meaning that no economy would collapse in a favor of a thriving ecosystem, or vice versa. Students have to, first and foremost, be helped to become aware of their rights and duties as people who develop the economy of a state, build a healthy society and protect the planet for themselves.

Keywords:

Sustainability, opinions, society, environment, economy.