Integrating Information Systems to Enhance Academic Community Engagement for Environmental Sustainability: Lessons from Surigao del Sur, Philippines

Abstract

Environmental conservation and preservation play crucial roles amid climate change, urging more community engagement and accountability to reduce the negative environmental impacts. However, despite various programs and regulatory frameworks aiming at increasing community involvement, persistent obstacles remained in the education sector in the Philippines. With the foregoing issues, this study interviewed 596 schools-affiliated individuals across various academic institutions in Surigao del Sur, Philippines, to determine the key determinants (social, psychological, educational, cultural, and emotional aspects) influencing academic community engagement in environmental conservation and preservation; evaluate the level of accountability and assess how these indicators would better predict the sense of community engagement towards improving the community involvement towards achieving a sustainable environment. What drove more socially engaging environmental activities are the key determinants (R2 = 0.79) and the level of accountability (R2 = 0.80), suggesting that individuals, regardless of demographic backgrounds (e.g., age, gender, civil status, educational attainment), are willing to participate, engage and advocate for environmental awareness and join nature-friendly activities towards a more sustainable environment. Our results contribute to how the academic community can foster a more engaging society toward conserving and preserving our threatened and gradually degrading environment.