Navigating Environmental Stewardship: Assessing the Coastal Clean-Up Initiatives to Maritime Students in a University

The increasing of environmental pollution caused by excessive waste, particularly marine litter dominated by plastics, has emerged as a pressing global concern that threatens coastal and aquatic ecosystems. This study underscores the importance of embedding environmental education within maritime programs, recognizing both the ecological and psychological consequences of polluted coastal environments, and fostering environmental awareness among future maritime professionals. Effective and sustainable strategy entails the establishment of volunteer-driven coastal clean-up programs, which not only address marine pollution but also promote environmental consciousness, civic engagement, and a collective sense of social responsibility within the community. This study employed a descriptive quantitative research design to determine the university-led coastal clean-up activities on maritime students’ development in terms of knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes. Data were collected through a Google Forms survey disseminated via Facebook Messenger and e-mail, using purposive sampling to identify eligible participants and random sampling for distribution. Ethical standards, including anonymity and confidentiality of responses, were strictly observed. Findings reveal that coastal clean-up initiatives serve as effective experiential learning strategies, significantly enhancing students’ environmental literacy, teamwork and leadership skills, and values-based education. These activities provide practical learning opportunities that complement classroom instruction, preparing maritime students with the competencies, ethics, and sense of stewardship needed to become responsible leaders in both the community and the maritime industry.