The myth of the 'green student': Student involvement in Australian university sustainability programmes

The paper questions the prevalence of 'green students' and their impact on decision-making in sustainability programmes in Australian universities. While the universities studied provide numerous opportunities for student involvement in sustainability programmes, comparatively few students actually become involved, making student impact on decision-making in these programmes low. University employees are the primary drivers of university sustainability programmes, with the 'green student' not highly visible in these universities. The paper concludes by suggesting that all four universities in the sample could enhance their sustainability programmes by adopting a more evidence-based understanding of student attitudes towards sustainability.