Education's role in fostering environmental awareness and advancing sustainable development within a holistic framework

The paper explores the pivotal role of education in nurturing environmentally conscious citizenship and advancing sustainable development. It delves into how education raises public awareness regarding critical environmental issues like pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change. The analysis also probes the influence of education in shaping environmental values, skills, and decision-making abilities crucial for responsible ecological stewardship. Additionally, the paper examines innovative approaches and methodologies applicable in educational programs to enhance environmental literacy and promote active citizen engagement in addressing environmental challenges. The research seeks to investigate the nexus between perception, attitude, and environmental behavior among higher education students majoring in diverse fields such as electrical engineering, mechanics, and economics. Involving 453 students from Ukrainian higher educational institutions, the study employed the Likert scale to gauge students' environmental education, perception, attitude, and behavior. Findings revealed that students actively participating in academic education exhibit engagement in environmental initiatives such as volunteering, event participation, and recycling, along with a keen interest in green technologies and alternative energy sources. Moreover, statistical analysis indicated no significant difference in the awareness of the importance of environmental education across various faculties.