From attitudes to action: How universities shape student sustainability behaviors in Kazakhstan

This quantitative study aims to explore the role of higher education institutions in promoting sustainable behaviors among university students in Kazakhstan. A total of 817 responses were collected from six universities through a trilingual (Kazakh, Russian, and English) survey assessing students’ knowledge, attitudes, values, and skills related to sustainability. Sustainable behavior was operationalized as the total count of 14 binary actions, representing students’ engagement across environmental, economic, and social domains. Hierarchical regression analyses indicate that skills developed at university were associated with a 0.19 increase in sustainable behavior, 95% CI [.12, .27], after controlling for their background characteristics (i.e., major, gender, geographic location, and economic status), their knowledge about sustainability, and their attitudes toward sustainable development. A latent profile analysis identified four distinct profiles of university students’ perceptions of sustainable development based on their knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behaviors related to sustainability. The study suggests that while attitudes toward sustainability are generally positive among students, universities play a vital role in transforming these attitudes into behaviors through skill-building and practical engagement. Tailored strategies that account for demographic differences and distinct student profiles can further enhance the effectiveness of sustainability education in higher education institutions.