EQUIPPING MALAYSIAN GRADUATES FOR SUSTAINABLE FUTURES: DEVELOPING AND VALIDATING A NATIONAL SCALE OF SUSTAINABILITY COMPETENCIES
Keywords:
Sustainability competencies, higher education, graduate employability, sustainable development goals, curriculum designAbstract
Sustainable development represents a significant challenge for higher education systems globally, including in Malaysia. The nation aims to produce graduates equipped to tackle complex social, environmental, and economic challenges, necessitating the integration of sustainability competencies into university curricula. This study constructs and validates a national scale for assessing sustainability competencies in Malaysian undergraduates, addressing the disconnect between policy goals and actual educational results. The study employs a multi-phase research design to synthesise essential dimensions of sustainability competencies, which encompass systems thinking, critical reflection, problem-solving, and collaborative engagement. An instrument was subsequently refined through expert consultation and evaluated across various Malaysian public universities. Statistical validation was performed to confirm reliability, construct validity, and applicability across institutions of the scale. The results demonstrate that sustainability competencies can be quantitatively assessed, serving as a resource for curriculum evaluation, institutional comparison, and alignment with national policies. Equipping graduates with essential competencies enables Malaysian higher education to significantly contribute to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals and prepares students for the challenges posed by a rapidly evolving global landscape. This research presents a methodological improvement in competency assessment and a strategic framework for integrating sustainability into higher education systems.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Abd Rahman Ahmad, Hairul Rizad Md Sapry, Umi Kartini Rashid, Alaa S Jamee
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