American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) is committed to promoting sustainability through education, research, and community engagement. While AIUB integrates sustainability into its curriculum and organizes various initiatives to enhance environmental awareness, the university does not currently have a formal assessment tool specifically designed to measure sustainability literacy among its students.
Existing Sustainability Initiatives
AIUB has implemented several strategies to foster sustainability literacy:
- Curriculum Integration: Sustainability concepts are incorporated into various courses across disciplines, ensuring that students gain foundational knowledge on climate issues and sustainable development. https://www.aiub.edu/administration/institutional-policy/aiub-climate-action-plan
- Experiential Learning: The university offers hands-on experiences such as community garden projects and energy-saving challenges, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge in practical settings.
- Research Centers: Establishment of specialized centers like the Center for Sustainable Energy Research (CSER) under the Dr. Anwarul Abedin Institute of Innovation (D2A2I) focuses on sustainable energy and climate change research.
- Self-assessment tool and rubric for students: AIUB has also developed self-assessment tool and rubric for students’ sustainability literacy assessment. for community engagement and development under sustainability concept. AIUB participates in many international projects with renowned organizations and entities on sustainability goal achievement, e.g. UK-SOS, MCO, IAU-HESD, and others.
- AIUB has undertaken a project titled, “Responsible future international 2024-2025” with UK-SOS in which students of AIUB will rate the university on sustainability issues under a prescribed framework and assessment tool provided by UK-SOS and it is a continuous initiative of AIUB.
Recommendation for Implementing a Sustainability Literacy Assessment
To further AIUB's commitment to sustainability and to effectively measure the impact of its initiatives, it is recommended that the university develop and implement a formal sustainability literacy assessment. This tool would serve to evaluate students' understanding of sustainability concepts and identify areas for improvement.
Benefits of a Sustainability Literacy Assessment
- Curriculum Enhancement: Assessment results can inform curriculum development, ensuring that sustainability topics are effectively covered and understood.
- Benchmarking Progress: Regular assessments allow the university to track progress over time, measuring the effectiveness of sustainability initiatives.
- Accreditation and Recognition: Demonstrating a commitment to sustainability literacy can enhance AIUB's reputation and contribute to rankings in sustainability-focused assessments.
Conclusion
While AIUB has made significant strides in promoting sustainability through various initiatives, the implementation of a formal sustainability literacy assessment would provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of these efforts. Such an assessment would support continuous improvement and reinforce AIUB's dedication to fostering a culture of sustainability within its academic community.