Institutional Influence and Cultural Contexts in Student-led Environmental Action at the Muslim University of Morogoro. A Quantitative Study
Abstract
This study examines the institutional and socio-cultural factors influencing environmental conservation participation among students at the Muslim University of Morogoro (MUM). Utilizing a quantitative research design, data were collected from 440 students through both onsite (face-to-face) and online (Google Form) surveys. The survey instrument included a series of Likert-scale items designed to measure students’ levels of environmental awareness, attitudes, perceived institutional support, socio-cultural influences, and actual participation in conservation activities. Descriptive analysis revealed that students demonstrated moderate to high levels of environmental awareness and positive attitudes toward conservation. However, actual participation remained limited due to several key factors. Notably, the absence of an independent environmental club on campus emerged as a significant institutional barrier, restricting structured opportunities for engagement. Instead, students relied on existing clubs such as the Geography and Biology associations, which lacked a specific focus on environmental action. Pearson correlation analysis indicated statistically significant positive relationships between students’ participation in environmental conservation and both institutional support and socio-cultural influences, particularly those rooted in religious and community values. These results highlight the urgent need for MUM to establish a dedicated environmental club and strengthen institutional structures to empower student-led conservation efforts. The study recommends future research to firstly explore qualitatively the perception and attitude of students towards their participation in environmental activities at MUM, and second, to investigate the effectiveness of environmental clubs once established and the long-term impact of faith-based environmental education.
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