{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,18]],"date-time":"2025-12-18T05:30:45Z","timestamp":1766035845553,"version":"3.48.0"},"reference-count":31,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"24","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,16]],"date-time":"2025-12-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1765843200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Foundation for Science and Technology","award":["UIDB\/04730\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/04730\/2020"]}]},{"name":"Foundation for Science and Technology","award":["UIDP\/04730\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDP\/04730\/2020"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sustainability"],"abstract":"<jats:p>With the substantial expansion of technology in education during the COVID-19 pandemic, with certain practices even demonstrating a positive impact on environmental sustainability, five years later, it has become pertinent to examine the current perceptions of teachers and students regarding its utilization. This work explores how students and teachers from different countries and academic cultures perceive and incorporate sustainable habits into their daily lives. The focus is on transportation choices, food consumption, and the use of resources. The results of an adapted questionnaire, which was distributed to 855 students and 124 teachers, reveal meaningful differences: students tend to adopt more sustainable transport habits. In contrast, teachers demonstrate a greater commitment to reducing food waste and conserving resources. Cross-country comparisons also highlight differences. When focusing on the major samples (Portugal and Mexico), Portuguese participants scored higher in terms of food and resource sustainability, whereas Mexican participants relied more on public transport. These insights shed light on how sustainability is shaped not only by individual awareness but also by context and educational culture. Furthermore, the findings emphasize the ongoing role of higher education institutions in inspiring meaningful change and fostering a mindset of sustainability in future generations.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/su172411264","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,16]],"date-time":"2025-12-16T12:47:26Z","timestamp":1765889246000},"page":"11264","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Education for Sustainability: Perceptions of Sustainability Habits in Different Academic Cultures"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"17","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5053-536X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alexandra R.","family":"Costa","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"CIETI, ISEP, Polytechnic of Porto, Rua Dr. Bernardino de Almeida, 4249-125 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2104-477X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nat\u00e9rcia","family":"Lima","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CIETI, ISEP, Polytechnic of Porto, Rua Dr. Bernardino de Almeida, 4249-125 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5769-5291","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Clara","family":"Viegas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CIETI, ISEP, Polytechnic of Porto, Rua Dr. Bernardino de Almeida, 4249-125 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7248-7810","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Claudia","family":"Orozco-Rodr\u00edguez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Exact Sciences and Engineering University Center, Maths Department, Guadalajara University, Guadalajara 44430, Mexico"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1244-8502","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gustavo R.","family":"Alves","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CIETI, ISEP, Polytechnic of Porto, Rua Dr. Bernardino de Almeida, 4249-125 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1219-3105","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andr\u00e9 Vaz","family":"Fidalgo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CIETI, ISEP, Polytechnic of Porto, Rua Dr. Bernardino de Almeida, 4249-125 Porto, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2347","DOI":"10.25304\/rlt.v28.2347","article-title":"A framework for mixed reality free-choice, self-determined learning","volume":"28","author":"Aguayo","year":"2020","journal-title":"Res. Learn. Technol."},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"Publishing, E., Collection, B.A., Do, C., An, P., Haladay, J., Hicks, S., and Account, U.E. (2021). Narratives of Educating for Sustainability in Unsustainable Environments, Michigan State University Press."},{"key":"ref_3","first-page":"91","article-title":"Expectativas Acad\u00e9micas em Estudantes de Engenharia do Primeiro Ano: Uma An\u00e1lise de Clusters","volume":"6","author":"Costa","year":"2016","journal-title":"Rev. E-Psi"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1004","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2019.06.059","article-title":"The Role of Higher Education Institutions in Sustainability Initiatives at the Local Level","volume":"233","author":"Pallant","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Clean. Prod."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1594","DOI":"10.1108\/IJSHE-07-2022-0208","article-title":"Key Insights from Climate Communication\u2014And How They Can Inspire Sustainability in Higher Education","volume":"24","author":"Sippel","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int. J. Sustain. High. Educ."},{"key":"ref_6","unstructured":"United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, United Nations. Available online: https:\/\/sdgs.un.org\/goals."},{"key":"ref_7","unstructured":"Sustainable Development Solutions Network (MED) (2019). Sustainable Development Report 2019: Mediterranean, SDSN. Available online: https:\/\/www.sdsn-mediterranean.unisi.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2019\/10\/Report_SDG_MED-min.pdf."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kumar, S., and Kim, D. (2017). Sustainability Practice and Education on University Campuses and Beyond, Bentham Science Publishers.","DOI":"10.2174\/97816810847181170101"},{"key":"ref_9","first-page":"72","article-title":"La Pandemia Obliga a Renovar el Contrato Social","volume":"139","author":"Monge","year":"2020","journal-title":"Tiempo Paz"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"112","DOI":"10.1108\/IJSHE-04-2019-0152","article-title":"Education for Sustainability: Fostering a More Conscious Society and Transformation towards Sustainability","volume":"21","author":"Wamsler","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int. J. Sustain. High. Educ."},{"key":"ref_11","unstructured":"Bansard, J., and Schr\u00f6der, M. (2021). The Sustainable Use of Natural Resources: The Governance Challenge (Still Only One Earth Policy Brief #16), International Institute for Sustainable Development. Available online: https:\/\/bit.ly\/still-only-one-earth."},{"key":"ref_12","first-page":"22","article-title":"Sustainability education in First Nations schools: A multi-site study and implications for education policy","volume":"191","author":"Bentham","year":"2019","journal-title":"Can. J. Educ. Adm. Policy"},{"key":"ref_13","first-page":"96","article-title":"Sustainability in Management Education: Contributions from Critical Reflection and Transformative Learning","volume":"29","author":"Brunnquell","year":"2018","journal-title":"Metrop. Univ."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Scarpellini, S., Gimeno, \u00c1., and Portillo-Tarragona, P. (2021). Financial Resources for the Investments in Renewable Self-Consumption in a Circular Economy Framework. Sustainability, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/su13126838"},{"key":"ref_15","first-page":"100","article-title":"A Review on Higher Education for Sustainable Development: Looking Back and Moving Forward","volume":"7","author":"Barth","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Soc. Sci."},{"key":"ref_16","unstructured":"Students Organizing for Sustainability International (2025, October 20). SOS-International. Available online: https:\/\/sos.earth\/."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Blewitt, J., and Cullingford, C. (2013). The Sustainability Curriculum: Facing the Challenge in Higher Education, Earthscan.","DOI":"10.4324\/9781849773287"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ghita, S.I., Saseanu, A.S., Gogonea, R.M., and Huidumac-Petrescu, C.E. (2018). Perspectives of Ecological Footprint in European Context Under the Impact of Information Society and Sustainable Development. Sustainability, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/su10093224"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Viegas, C., Lima, N., and Costa, A.R. (2023). Engineering Students\u2019 Perception on Self-efficacy in Pre and Post Pandemic Phase. Sustainability, 15.","DOI":"10.3390\/su15129538"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Curelaru, M., Curelaru, V., and Cristea, M. (2022). Students\u2019 Perceptions of Online Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Approach. Sustainability, 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/su14138138"},{"key":"ref_21","first-page":"127","article-title":"An\u00e1lisis en la Percepci\u00f3n de los Estudiantes Hacia la Sostenibilidad Ambiental en el Instituto Tecnol\u00f3gico de Los Mochis","volume":"20","year":"2024","journal-title":"Ra Ximhai"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"104347","DOI":"10.1016\/j.erss.2025.104347","article-title":"Navigating Ecological Civilization: Polycentric Environmental Governance and Policy Regulatory Framework in China","volume":"128","author":"Zhou","year":"2025","journal-title":"Energy Res. Soc. Sci."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"448","DOI":"10.56294\/dm2024448","article-title":"Education for Sustainability: A Data-Driven Methodological Proposal for the Strengthening of Environmental Attitudes in University Students and Their Involvement in Policies and Decision-Making","volume":"3","year":"2024","journal-title":"Data Metadata"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1426","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cstp.2020.10.007","article-title":"The application of travel demand management initiatives within a university setting","volume":"8","author":"Logan","year":"2020","journal-title":"Case Stud. Transp. Policy"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"274","DOI":"10.1016\/j.trf.2025.04.009","article-title":"New mobility trials and travel behaviour change for the context of a UK University campus: Insights from the \u201cChoose Your Way Warwick\u201d mobility hub ecosystem","volume":"112","author":"Papafoti","year":"2025","journal-title":"Transp. Res. Part. F Traffic Psychol. Behav."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dalu, M.T.B., Ngobeni, B.S., and Dalu, T. (2023). Assessing Pro-Environmental Behaviour towards Plastics among Staff and Students at a South African University. Sustainability, 15.","DOI":"10.3390\/su152416904"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"353","DOI":"10.24200\/jonus.vol10iss1pp353-372","article-title":"Assessing the Relationship of Knowledge and Attitudes on E-Waste Recycling Practices among Students of Higher Learning Institutions","volume":"10","author":"Yaacob","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Nusant. Stud."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"397","DOI":"10.1186\/s41043-025-01124-6","article-title":"Assessment of Sustainable and Healthy Eating Behaviors, EAT-Lancet Diet Score, Diet Quality and Obesity Indicators among University Staff: A Cross-Sectional Study","volume":"44","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Health Popul. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_29","first-page":"979","article-title":"Sustainable Diets and Their Nutritional, Environmental and Economic Impact: The Consumer\u2019s Point of View","volume":"81","author":"Kenny","year":"2023","journal-title":"Nutr. Rev."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Viegas, C., Lima, N., Felgueiras, C., Marques, A., Alves, G.R., Costa, A.R., and Fidalgo, A. (2021, January 26\u201329). How May Teaching Contribute to Sustainability in a Small Scale but with Wide Use?. Proceedings of the Ninth International Conference on Technological Ecosystems for Enhancing Multiculturality (TEEM\u201921), Barcelona, Spain.","DOI":"10.1145\/3486011.3486558"},{"key":"ref_31","unstructured":"Robalo, M. (2014). An\u00e1lise de Dados para Ci\u00eancias Sociais: A Complementaridade do SPSS, Edi\u00e7\u00f5es S\u00edlabo. [6th ed.]."}],"container-title":["Sustainability"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2071-1050\/17\/24\/11264\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,18]],"date-time":"2025-12-18T05:27:36Z","timestamp":1766035656000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2071-1050\/17\/24\/11264"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,16]]},"references-count":31,"journal-issue":{"issue":"24","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12]]}},"alternative-id":["su172411264"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/su172411264","relation":{},"ISSN":["2071-1050"],"issn-type":[{"type":"electronic","value":"2071-1050"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,16]]}}}