Understanding policy and participation in the development of a green university: insights from an urban university in Thailand

Currently, sustainability is a global priority for universities worldwide. The initial success of university development toward sustainability stems from the awareness and involvement of all personnel in policy and participation in becoming a green university. The study examined university personnel’s perceptions of green university policies and participation, along with factors influencing their involvement. This cross-sectional descriptive study recruited personnel from a university in an urban area in Thailand. The survey was conducted online via email. The questionnaire consisted of general information, awareness of green university policy, and participation in green universities. A total of 660 respondents participated in the questionnaire, with the majority being support staff personnel. Approximately 31.3% had previously worked or been involved in green university practices. The perceptions of green university policy and participation were moderate to low with 76.2% and 63.9%, respectively. The factors related to participation in a green university include job position (adjusted odds ratio 2.17; 95% CI = 1.07–4.42; p = 0.032), receiving information about the green university (adjusted odds ratio 4.04; 95% CI = 1.81–8.99; p = 0.001), and awareness of the green university policy (adjusted odds ratio 17.52; 95% CI = 10.58–29.00; p < 0.001). Therefore, it is essential to emphasize raising awareness to encourage personnel involvement in green university operations, especially during the initial stages of implementing such initiatives.