It reveals that while the consideration of environmental issues is not decisive in students’ choice of study programs, it is essential during their courses.
The barometer conducted by OpinionWay for Mines Saint-Étienne focused on: “Young people and the integration of environmental issues by higher education institutions.”
What to take away from this study?
- 85% of students surveyed consider it important for higher education institutions to integrate environmental issues (+4 points compared to the 2023 edition of the barometer) and 85% believe these institutions have a role to play in the environmental transition (91% for Mines Saint-Étienne students).
- 37% of students even say they are ready to leave their school or university if they realize its carbon footprint is disastrous (+4 points compared to 2023). However, this criterion is not yet decisive in their choice of study program: only 16% (+2 points) of students surveyed indicate having chosen their institution based on its consideration of environmental issues (23% for Mines Saint-Étienne students).
- For students expressing significant environmental sensitivity, this figure reaches 22%, an increase of 5 points. It should be noted that, according to the survey, students primarily chose their institution for the interest of the program (69%, -4 points), for its geographical location (62%, -2 points), the cost of the program (42%, +3 points), and the prestige of the institution (41%, +4 points; 93% for Mines Saint-Étienne students).
- Students are satisfied with the work of schools and universities regarding environmental matters: 80% of young people surveyed believe their institution has well integrated environmental issues (+9 points compared to 2023). For students in scientific fields, this increase reaches 16 points: 84% of them believe their institution has integrated these issues.
- The perception of institutions’ work on environmental issues is improving, especially concerning teaching (76%, +11 points) and research activities (76%, +9 points / 82% for Mines Saint-Étienne students).
Finally, 78% of students would like institutions to offer them
more practical environmental education, providing them with more concrete means of action (82% for students in scientific fields).
“The 2024 edition of the barometer shows that, even if it is not decisive in their academic choices, students attach great importance to the eco-responsible nature of their institution once they have joined it. To the point of being ready to leave if they are dissatisfied!”
Jacques Fayolle, Director of Mines Saint-Étienne
This study was conducted from January 2 to 8, 2024, among a representative sample of 1024 French higher education students, using the quota method. In parallel, a consultation was carried out with 143 students from Mines Saint-Étienne.
