Student interest in sustainability surges

By Ameena Ali

The topic of sustainability has been increasingly trending and in high demand over the past few years. In the higher education sector, universities have been developing programmes that address these critical issues, encouraging students to actively engage in learning about sustainability and acquire skills that contribute to maintaining and innovating sustainable initiatives. This article focuses on on-campus, Master’s programmes to study how things have been developing.??

The following trendline illustrates how the supply of Master’s programmes containing the keyword “sustainable” in all its forms has peaked in recent years, particularly since 2021. ?

Several key destination countries have significantly contributed to this growth. The UK, in particular, has been a pioneer in offering English-taught programmes across various disciplines that incorporate the term “sustainable.” Although there has been a slight decline in supply in the past year, the UK still leads in offering such programmes compared to other countries.?

Other leading destinations in terms of supply include the US, France, Sweden, and Germany. Notably, Canada ranks 10th, and Australia does not appear in the top-10 list. This absence may suggest that Australian institutions offer sustainability-related programmes without explicitly mentioning the keyword in their titles.?

Given that some destinations have fewer programmes featuring the keyword, it raises the question of whether the keyword itself is crucial for attracting students. While multiple factors influence a student's choice of programme, data from Studyportals suggests that programmes containing the keyword “sustainable” generate almost twice the number of pageviews per programme compared to all programmes overall. This indicates that students are indeed drawn to sustainability-related studies, making the keyword valuable.?

While sustainability is often associated with fields such as Environmental Studies & Earth Sciences, it is noteworthy that almost all disciplines, except for Humanities, offer programmes incorporating this keyword. This makes it valuable to examine the performance of these programmes across different fields. Generally, programmes featuring the keyword outperform those that do not. The most striking findings reveal that “sustainable” programmes excel in unique fields such as Journalism & Media, Medicine & Health, and Education & Training. This suggests that students are eager to explore sustainability from diverse perspectives, making niche programmes particularly appealing.?

Pageviews per programme for sustainability-related programmes vs non-sustainability-related programmes

When analyzing the origin countries of students interested in these programmes, India has shown a decline in demand. However, compared to other origin countries, interest remains relatively high. Similar declining trends have been observed in Iran, Germany, and Türkiye. There could be various reasons for this hesitation, one of which might be concerns about career prospects, as highlighted in recent news articles.?

On the other hand, Bangladesh has exhibited a steady increase in interest in sustainability-related programmes worldwide, particularly since 2023. The US has also maintained a consistent level of demand over the years.?

This article has provided various insights into sustainability-related programmes. It remains essential to continue exploring this topic, as universities strive to understand what drives students to study these fields and how they can better cater to demand. While some origin countries indicate a decline in interest, these programmes continue to attract a substantial audience. Thus, institutions must find ways to sustain and nurture this interest by highlighting the value these programmes offer, from skill development to career opportunities. As the global push for sustainability continues, the higher education sector must demonstrate to students how they can contribute effectively to this field without concerns about limited job prospects.?