Greening the Building Construction Industry: Sustainability Consciousness of Building Technology Education Would-Be Professionals

Abstract

Despite the growing global emphasis on sustainable construction practices and the increasing urgency to minimize the environmental footprint of the construction industry, there remains a critical question mark regarding the preparedness, knowledge, and awareness of certain future professionals – Building Technology Education students. The lack of clarity on whether these students possess adequate knowledge, skills, and a mindset geared towards eco-friendly practices forms the crux of the problem. This study aimed to investigate and address this gap in understanding the sustainability consciousness of Building Technology Education students using a descriptive survey design and adopted the Sustainability Consciousness Questionnaire (SCQ) as an instrument for data collection. Cronbach alpha reliability test of the instrument yielded a satisfactory α = 0.841. Findings across knowingness, attitudes, and behaviours related to sustainability, reveal that students demonstrated alignment and agreement, indicating not only a robust understanding of sustainability concepts but also a positive inclination and active engagement in behaviours supporting sustainability initiatives. Moreover, comparing academic years revealed a significant difference in sustainability consciousness between final-year students and those in earlier academic stages. This highlights the evolving nature of sustainability awareness throughout the educational journey, suggesting that sustainability consciousness becomes more pronounced as a student progresses in study. These insights are invaluable for educators, institutions, and policymakers, indicating the need for continuous reinforcement of sustainability education and practices throughout the BTE curriculum to foster a more comprehensive and consistent sustainability consciousness among these future professionals, towards greening the building construction industry.