Assessing the impact of SDG education on university students’ benevolence and universalism values

Purpose The 2030 Agenda establishes 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) that require coordinated local and global action. The university is a strategic agent for the promotion of values aligned with sustainable development. This study aims to identify if specific activities related to SDGs in university influence not only knowledge but also benevolence and universalism values of Schwartz’s Theory of Basic Values. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected following a pretest-posttest design, at the beginning and end of the 2023–2024 academic year, using an online questionnaire based on Schwartz’s Theory. Between both measurements, professors carried out specific activities related to SGDs. A total of 490 university students participated voluntarily in T1 and 297 in T2. The final sample included 143 students who responded to T1 and T2 (77.6% women, average age: 20.9). Findings Educational interventions linked to the SDGs have a statistically significant impact on specific university students’ values. Specifically, a positive evolution has been found regarding the values of benevolence and universalism of “unity with nature” and “sense of belonging”, while “wisdom” and “meaning in life” showed slight decreases. Concurrently, a reduction of the gender gap in the benevolence dimension was observed. Originality/value This article provides an innovative fit in the field of research as it combines Schwartz’s Theory of Basic Values with educational interventions linked to the SDGs. Such an approach allows a broad view of university education as a setting for ethical and social transformation.