Attitudes Towards Sustainability at Business Schools: A Comparative Study of Students at Local and International Universities in Singapore

Higher education institutions have been called to step up and contribute towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Much research has been conducted in the areas of sustainable development and responsible management education. However, global progress towards achieving the SDGs has been slow. This paper scrutinizes foreign (subsidiary) and local business schools operating in Singapore by exploring the factors that influence students’ consideration of a program of study and what is important to the student experience, particularly from a sustainability perspective. An online survey questionnaire was distributed, and 139 participants completed it. Results suggest no significant difference in attitudes between genders and local and international students. However, all students are concerned and expect the school to provide support for mental well-being. The analysis also revealed that sustainability perceptions and awareness are low, and that students received very little education on sustainability. Despite extensive research on sustainable development and responsible management education, a significant gap remains between theory and practice, primarily due to the lack of translation of theory into practical applications.