Environmental Citizenship Among Higher Education Students in India

The study examines environmental citizenship (EC) awareness and the impact of local cultural practices on participation among university students (age 23–30) in three central Indian institutions. It focuses on factors such as gender, locality, parents’ education, and family income to understand their influence on student engagement in environmental initiatives. Utilizing an embedded mixed-methods approach, quantitative data were collected through the Environmental Citizenship Questionnaire (ECQ) developed by Hadjichambis and Paraskeva-Hadjichambi in 2020, alongside qualitative data from structured interviews. A total of 112 survey responses and ten participant interviews were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including independent t-tests and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The findings reveal significant variations in EC levels based on locality, parental education, and family income, with minimal impact from gender. The study highlights a significant lack of awareness among students and their families regarding formal environmental initiatives, despite their engagement in environmentally friendly behaviors rooted in local cultural practices. Further, the study suggests a gap in understanding family opinions and school engagement through hidden curricula. Consequently, further research is recommended to explore these aspects more comprehensively and to enhance the overall understanding of EC among students.