Lack of environmental sustainability in youth training at higher education

Abstract

This paper aims to explore the need of the Pakistan public university students to be educated and trained to comprehend the significance of environmental safety. Higher education has the responsibility of nation lead, especially, in training the youth to combat with emerging challenges and issues. However, the solution for these challenges –-health diseases, environmental hazards, lack of equal opportunities and others—depend on the safety of environment because of its inevitable connection with everything that exists in this world. Various efforts to preserve the environment are being taken into consideration from every corner of the higher education institutes in the developed and the developing countries alike. The initiatives in Pakistan higher education context seem less with respect to the subsequent adverse affects of the destruction of environment on the growing population of the country. This study employed open-ended one-on-one interview from five higher education academic administrators (N=5) of Pakistan public universities. Thematic analysis produced two themes: a). importance of youth training for environmental sustainability and, b) destruction of ozone layer with six categories. The findings showed the need to revise the curriculum and educate the youth. It was also found that there is a need of combined concerted efforts from all concerned agencies, and ministries to ensure the safety of environment.