Sustainable development goals: students’ perception on quality education, gender equality, and sustainability

The sustainable development goals (SDGs) aim to create a future that is resilient, sustainable, and inclusive for both people and the planet. This study explored the roles of SDG 4 (quality education) and SDG 5 (gender equality) in achieving sustainability by assessing young students’ perceptions of the SDGs. The research focused on university students in Saudi Arabia, with data collected through questionnaires from 301 participants. To analyse the data, exploratory factor analysis was conducted to reduce data dimensions and group items. The constructs were confirmed to have both discriminant and convergent validity. Regression and correlation analyses were performed to test the hypotheses and better understand the relationships between the extracted variables, using Smart-PLS version 4 and SPSS version 24 for data analysis. The results showed that both SDG 4 and SDG 5 significantly influence sustainability outcomes. The regression analysis produced an R-squared value of 0.569, indicating that the combined effects of gender equality and quality education account for approximately 56.9% of the variation in sustainability outcomes. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders who strive to advance the SDG agenda and promote inclusive development. They highlight the synergies between SDG 4 and SDG 5 in achieving sustainable development.