Perception of a sustainable university among international students – critical evaluation factors among EU and non-EU students

Sustainability has become a cornerstone of strategic priorities for higher education institutions, particularly in addressing global challenges. This study investigates the perception of sustainable university among international students, focusing on the critical determinants shaping their evaluations. Employing a questionnaire-based methodology, this study investigates the perspectives of students from both European Union (EU) and non-European Union (non-EU) countries, with a focus on identifying critical dimensions including environmental campus operations, education and awareness, research and innovation, as well as governance and performance measurement frameworks. Findings highlight significant cultural and geographical differences: EU students give higher ratings to the sustainable activities undertaken by their home universities in every area studied than their non-EU counterparts. The largest differences are found in the perception of activities related to campus policies, education and governance. A smaller difference is visible in the variables related to basic campus operations, where the p-value indicates less significant differences. The differences in ratings may be due to different cultural backgrounds, educational experiences, expectations and the level of integration with the European educational and social system.