Near East University conducts the Sustainability Literacy Assessment to evaluate the sustainability knowledge, awareness, attitudes, and practices of its students, academic staff, administrative staff, and alumni in relation to sustainable practices and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The assessment supports the monitoring of sustainability literacy over time, identifies areas for further improvement, and helps evaluate the effectiveness of sustainability education, awareness activities, student engagement initiatives, and institutional sustainability policies. The questionnaire includes participant-profile questions, 20 multiple-choice questions on sustainability knowledge and the SDGs, 10 Likert-scale statements on attitudes and behaviours, and 4 questions on institutional sustainability awareness and engagement. It is available in both English and Turkish. Please select your preferred language to participate: Sustainability Literacy Assessment: 2025–2026 Academic Year As part of Near East University’s 2025–2026 academic year sustainability evaluation efforts, a university-wide Sustainability Literacy Assessment was conducted. The assessment aimed to measure the knowledge, awareness, and behaviors of students and staff regarding sustainability principles and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The test included multiple-choice questions as well as Likert-scale items designed to assess sustainability-related attitudes. Among the respondents, students made up approximately 60%, while academic and administrative staff accounted for 38%, with a small percentage (2%) identifying as graduate students. In terms of educational background, 43% of participants held a bachelor’s degree, followed by 29% with a doctorate, and 13% with a high school diploma, reflecting a diverse academic profile across the university community. This assessment provides valuable insight into the university’s current standing on sustainability literacy and continues to inform ongoing initiatives related to climate strategy, curriculum integration, and institutional engagement with the SDGs. Key Findings from the Sustainability Literacy Assessment The analysis of the multiple-choice section of the Sustainability Literacy Assessment revealed key strengths as well as areas for improvement across the university community, with overall results indicating a moderate improvement compared to the previous academic year. Strengths Participants demonstrated high awareness in several core areas: These results suggest an improving and solid foundation of everyday sustainability practices among participants. Areas for Improvement Several topics showed lower levels of correct responses, indicating potential knowledge gaps: Recommendations for Educational Planning Based on the findings, the following topics are recommended for targeted sustainability education efforts: Students Academic Staff Administrative Staff These insights will inform future workshops, course design, and engagement strategies, ensuring that sustainability awareness continues to grow within Near East University’s institutional culture. Attitudes and Behaviors Toward Sustainability The analysis of Likert-scale responses in the Sustainability Literacy Assessment indicates that participants generally exhibit a stronger alignment compared to the previous year with core sustainability values and practices. Positive Attitudes and Habits Areas with Lower Engagement Interpretation & Implications These findings reveal an overall improvement in sustainability-conscious behavior, particularly in energy use and waste-related practices. However, behavioral adoption around sustainable consumption and transportation choices remains an area for further development—possibly due to affordability, infrastructure, or habit-related barriers. To address these gaps, Near East University can continue to strengthen: This updated assessment demonstrates that sustainability literacy at Near East University is progressively improving, reinforcing the importance of integrating sustainability not only into knowledge systems but also into daily habits and institutional culture. Sustainability Literacy Assessment : 2024-2025 Academic Year As part of Near East University’s 2024–2025 academic year sustainability evaluation efforts, a university-wide Sustainability Literacy Assessment was conducted. The assessment aimed to measure the knowledge, awareness, and behaviors of students and staff regarding sustainability principles and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The test included multiple-choice questions as well as Likert-scale items designed to assess sustainability-related attitudes. Among the respondents, students made up approximately 61%, while academic and administrative staff accounted for 37%, with a small percentage (2%) identifying as graduate students. In terms of educational background, 41% of participants held a bachelor’s degree, followed by 27% with a doctorate, and 14% with a high school diploma, reflecting a diverse academic profile across the university community. This assessment provides valuable insight into the university’s current standing on sustainability literacy and will inform future initiatives related to climate strategy, curriculum integration, and institutional engagement with the SDGs. Strengths These results suggest a solid foundational understanding of everyday sustainability practices among participants. Areas for Improvement Recommendations for Educational Planning Academic Staff Administrative Staff These insights will inform future workshops, course design, and engagement strategies, ensuring that sustainability awareness becomes a living part of Near East University’s institutional culture. Attitudes and Behaviors Toward Sustainability Positive Attitudes and Habits Areas with Lower Engagement Interpretation & Implications To address these gaps, Near East University can consider: This behavioral insight complements the knowledge-based findings and reinforces the importance of integrating sustainability not only into knowledge systems, but also into daily habits and institutional culture. University Students' Knowledge of Sustainability and Behavioral Practices: 2023-2024 Academic Year To raise sustainability awareness and assess its students' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours regarding sustainability, Near East University conducted a research study as requested by its Quality Unit. This research was carried out by Isra Mustafa Mohamed Elamin, a PhD student from the Department of Innovation and Knowledge Management, during the Fall Semester of the 2023-2024 academic year. 500 students from various faculties and departments participated in the study. A survey measuring students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to sustainability was used in the research. According to the findings, 53.2% of students are aware of the university's sustainability initiatives, yet 52.4% are unaware of the opportunities to participate in sustainability-related workshops and events. On the other hand, 75.4% of students believe sustainability should be prioritised in university life and 76.8% support energy-saving practices. However, the data revealed a discrepancy between students' sustainability knowledge and their application of this knowledge in their daily lives; only 42% reported regularly engaging in sustainable practices (such as turning off lights in classrooms and adhering to recycling guidelines). In response to these findings, the Near East University Board of Directors has decided to offer an elective course titled "Sustainable Development and Education" across the university in the Fall Semester of 2024-2025. This course aims to encourage students to integrate sustainability concepts into their daily lives and career goals and enhance their understanding of environmental, social, and economic issues while promoting global collaboration and partnerships. The course will follow a modular structure, covering a wide range of topics, from ending poverty to access to clean energy and climate action. Given the identified gaps, the university plans to organize mandatory training sessions and workshops to increase sustainability awareness and create competitions and clubs to encourage active student participation. By fostering sustainability consciousness among students, the goal is to impact their academic and professional lives positively.
NEU Sustainability Literacy 
Key Findings from the Sustainability Literacy Assessment
The analysis of the multiple-choice section of the Sustainability Literacy Assessment revealed key strengths as well as areas for improvement across the university community.
Participants demonstrated high awareness in several core areas:
Several topics showed lower levels of correct responses, indicating potential knowledge gaps:
Based on the findings, the following topics are recommended for targeted sustainability education efforts:
Students
The analysis of Likert-scale responses in the Sustainability Literacy Assessment indicates that participants generally exhibit a strong alignment with core sustainability values and practices.
These findings reveal a solid foundation of sustainability-conscious behavior, particularly around energy and waste. However, behavioral adoption around sustainable consumption and transportation choices remains an area of improvement — possibly due to affordability, infrastructure, or habit-related barriers.
Sustainability Literacy