Perceptions of Environmental Protection of University Students: A Look through Digital Competences in Mexico

Abstract

This research reflects on the environmental problems that we are currently experiencing as a society and discusses education as an opportunity to solve them. Several frameworks of university digital competencies are identified and environmental care is highlighted as an important part of them, so the objective is to know the perceptions of university students in Mexico on digital competency and environmental protection and verify the following hypothesis: “currently there a is little development of environmental awareness and the relationship between the use of Information Technology (IT) as well as its environmental impact among university students”. For this purpose, a quantitative, non-experimental approach was used, specifically, a descriptive cross-sectional design using a Likert-type questionnaire was applied on 22 and 23 November 2021 to 135 students from two public universities belonging to four undergraduate programs in Mexico. The results indicate that most students are aware that the use of electronic devices for educational purposes has an impact on the environment and that, therefore, it is necessary to adopt effective measures and habits for an adequate and optimal use of digital environments.