Stefania-Myrto Staiculescu (BSc Geography) joins us to discuss her independent research project "Sustainability Across Borders: Comparing Student Attitudes and Behaviours at Southampton (UK) and Can Tho (Viet Nam) which is part of the Sustainability & Resilience Institute (University of Southampton) and Mekong Institute (Can Tho University) research collaboration.

In recent years, sustainability has become increasingly relevant, and universities are recognised as key to promoting and shaping students' environmental attitudes and behaviours. Students across all disciplines and international contexts should develop environmental awareness because they are future decision-makers who will determine the success of sustainable development. The aim of this study is to assess how sustainability attitudes and behaviours among students differ at the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom and Can Tho University in Viet Nam. A qualitative research study using NVivo was conducted, with 24 semi-structured interviews. The results revealed overall high levels of sustainability awareness at both universities, but a gap between the awareness and pro-environmental behaviours. Students at Can Tho University reveal that their sustainable behaviour is strongly linked to university-led and collective initiatives that encourage student engagement. However, at Southampton, students showed less enthusiasm for university initiatives and described more individual daily changes, such as transport choices and waste management. Although these findings are useful, further research could expand participant selection and look at multiple participant groups, such as the public, to help develop sustainable behaviours for the whole community.

Contact Stefania on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefania-staiculescu-0744812a9/

Guest: Stefania-Myrto Staiculescu, BSc Geography

Host: Prof Simon Kemp

Producer & Editor: Jack Dinham

The Meliora Podcast Student Research Symposium is part of the 2026 Student Takeover Season where we celebrate the fantastic sustainability research work of our Undergraduate Students.