Environmental Movement Regardless of Nationality: International Students’ Attitude toward Environmental Protection and Environmental Awareness in Taiwan ^†

Abstract

In recent years, environmental pollution has become a global concern, but most of the attention has been paid to the impact of garbage pollution on the oceans, and the pollution of mountain areas has rarely been a concern. However, the amount of garbage in the mountains is also considerable. Therefore, in order to make students pay more attention to the issue of environmental protection, we promoted environmental education and increased environmental awareness to encourage green behavior for the goal of environmental sustainability. Foreign students have a better understanding of environmental protection through mountain cleaning, improve their knowledge of garbage sorting, and work together to protect our environment.

1. Introduction

On the earth, due to over-exploitation and rapid development, many natural ecosystems are destroyed causing many different types of waste on earth, which induces environmental pollution. Thus, resource recycling is used to improve the environment and people’s health [1]. Because people are aware of their health and safety, they are actively reducing the use of plastic and starting to buy green products [2]. Only one person will not have any impact on the environmental movement, but if everyone does it together, it can bring unexpected benefits [3]. Environmental protection is an issue of global concern, and we must begin with immediate practical actions for the environment.

Environmental protection has always been a serious issue for Taiwan. Many people do not have the concept of environmental protection awareness, which hurts Taiwan and its environment. It is necessary to advertise the importance of environmental protection through environmental movements. Through these activities, we can protect nature. Coupled with the recent active promotion of the New Southbound Policy by Taiwan, the number of foreign students studying in Taiwan is increasing. Therefore, it is needed to encourage Taiwanese as well as foreign students to collaborate in safeguarding Taiwan.

2. Literature Review

2.1. Environmental Protection

Environmental protection involves the relationship between humans and the natural environment, with a focus on human living habits and behaviors to prevent unnecessary changes to the ecosystem. To enhance environmental awareness and promote appropriate waste disposal, a waste bank has been established, encouraging students to participate in waste sorting in exchange for cash rewards. This initiative benefits the environment and offers opportunities. In the academic year of 2016/2017, Syiah Kuala University (SKU) introduced a mandatory Disaster and Environmental Knowledge (PKL) course for all students to sensitize them to disaster and environmental issues [4]. A policy was enacted in the entire campus community, encouraging the avoidance of plastic bottles and other packaging materials to create a zero-waste campus. In 2018, the university collaborated with the National Electricity Company (PLN) to improve the campus environment following the initiatives proposed on Indonesia’s Tree Planting Day on November 18. These institutions planted 1045 trees, contributing to the development of a green campus and environmental protection [5].

2.2. Environmental Education

Environmental education is a transformative process that enables individuals to delve into environmental concerns, actively engage in problem solving, and take proactive measures to enhance the environment [6]. This educational approach fosters an understanding of environmental issues and equips individuals with the capabilities to make informed and responsible choices. As a result, it reshapes people’s attitudes and behaviors and establishes a harmonious connection with the natural environment. Environmental education achieves this by imparting knowledge, instilling values, and providing actionable strategies to drive positive environmental changes. Numerous studies support the paramount importance of environmental education in addressing environmental challenges, safeguarding the natural world, and promoting eco-friendly behaviors [7]. Many universities are actively promoting environmental education on campus by adopting various practices such as visiting natural environments or using school settings, planting trees or flowers, opening lectures with an environmental curriculum, forming groups to engage in environmental movements, and establishing Garbage Banks to address concerns for the surrounding environment. We summarized 5 tips for university course material in

Table 1. Tips for university course material.

5 Tips for University Course Material
Plant trees or flowers	Establish a Garbage Bank to concern for the surrounding environment
Form a group to perform some environmental movements	Open lectures with an environment curriculum; class dissemination
Visit natural environments or use places such as school settings

.

2.3. Environmental Awareness

In recent years, environmental issues have become a major topic of public opinion. People have begun to develop increasing environmental awareness and a positive attitude towards ecological issues. Many people began to aim for a friendly environment, advocate correct environmental awareness, organize to improve the environment with mountain cleaning, promote the knowledge of correct resource recycling, and work together for the earth. Researchers indicated that environmental awareness refers to a human’s understanding of the cognitive level and practical actions of environmental protection [8].

Mountain Riders, an educational organization dedicated to ecological transition, focuses on mountain waste clean-up initiatives that bring together practitioners and mountain enthusiasts to safeguard their natural playgrounds. Their objective is to address mountain litter by reducing its generation at the source. The organization assumes responsibility for education, awareness raising, tool provision, training, and supporting all stakeholders and citizens in the pursuit of a Zero Waste Mountain [9]. The climbers are also called on to take away their garbage and not leave it in the mountains for a comfortable and clean environment [10]. In addition, elementary school students cleaned mountains in an educational activity. Educational meaning was discussed to make students learn effectiveness in environmental education and cherish environmental resources [11]. The International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA), which annually convenes nearly a thousand people for these activities, is capable of collecting more than 90 tons of waste each time, with up to 40% of it being recycled. In addition to environmental improvements, its primary mission is to impart relevant knowledge to people [12].

2.4. Green Behavior

The indicators for measuring green behavior include maintaining a positive environmental attitude, taking responsibility for environmental protection, active participation, educational engagement, motivating peers to reduce their carbon footprint, and practicing effective waste sorting and resource recycling [13]. Recycling significantly benefits the environment by reducing landfill waste and conserving limited natural resources, like timber, as well as saving energy. Efforts to recycle waste reflect the commitment to environmental preservation. Major cities have implemented recycling systems to reduce pollution in the atmosphere [14]. We summarized green behavior at university in

Table 2. Green behavior at university.

Green Behavior
The University of George Washington [15]	Set up standardized recycling bins Color coding of different waste streams—green for compost, blue for recycling, black for landfill
The University of California Berkeley [16]	Replace the plastic bottles in vending machines with cans and glasses
The University of Waterloo [17]	Hold a garbage marathon for a zero-waste challenge

.

3. Methodology

The research framework of this study is illustrated in Figure 1. In order to achieve environmental sustainability, we introduced environmental education to university students to raise their environmental awareness and promote green behaviors for the objective of environmental sustainability. Regarding environmental education, we collected foreign university course materials for environmental education, including visiting natural settings, planting trees, opening lectures on the environment to form green behavior groups, and establishing a Garbage Bank. Using these materials, we expanded the curriculum of Chaoyang University of Technology to create awareness among foreign students about the importance of environmental education. To heighten environmental awareness among university students, a series of movements, including activities such as mountain cleaning, have been orchestrated with the explicit objective of not only organizing these environmental movements but also fostering a deeper understanding and commitment to environmental awareness among the student body. In this study, waste sorting knowledge was taught to university students, thereby cultivating and nurturing a more environmentally aware mindset and encouraging the adoption of sustainable practices and green behaviors.

These standards were implemented in three activities: class dissemination for environmental education aimed at students, mountain cleaning to enhance students’ environmental awareness, and garbage classification to promote green behavior among students. The standards aim to engage students in practical actions, promoting environmental responsibility on campus. Collaboration between Taiwanese and foreign students emphasized a shared commitment to environmental protection, regardless of nationality. By focusing on these three key points and using practical measures, waste pollution can be reduced to improve the environment not just on the campus but in the surrounding areas.

Inspired by Germany’s garbage classification, we developed a six-color recycling system: blue, brown, green, yellow, black, and white. Each color represents waste categories and recycling methods for washing and flattening items. We summarized six categories of recycling at CYUT in

Table 3. Six categories of recycling at CYUT.

Recycling at CYUT
Blue	Paper: books, cartons, coated paper, newspapers, photocopying paper, promotional paper, posters, leaflets, etc.
Brown	Aluminum cans: iron cans, bottles and cans of beverages, drinks, cola, cans, beer, etc.
Green	Aluminum foil pack (carton pack with a layer of transparent film): green tea, black tea, milk tea, juice, etc.
Yellow	Plastic bottles and cans that have recycling signs: bottled water, PET bottles, bubble tea, shower, cleaning supplies, straws, etc.
Black	General garbage: toilet paper, garbage bags, plastic bags, leaves, bamboo chopsticks, etc.
White	Glass bottles and cans for beverages: soy sauce, wine bottles, etc.

.

4. Movements for Environmental Protection

4.1. Class Dissemination

To instill the principles of environmental education among foreign students and foster the habit of garbage classification and recycling, the activity’s promotion was conducted through self-created presentation materials and practical demonstrations. In the operational phase, bags were used for five groups: glass, plastic, iron and aluminum, paper, and general waste. These items were presented to foreign students on campus for classification. With such efforts, students comprehended the need to remove straws from aluminum foil beverage packaging, placing them in general waste before flattening them for recycling. However, several students overlooked flattening paper boxes after removing the tape. A Vietnamese student inquired about the correct disposal of paper medicine packaging and was unsure whether it belonged to the paper or general waste category. For those who misclassified garbage or had uncertainties, explanations and practical demonstrations were provided. Through consistent promotion and practice, a clear understanding of garbage classification can be achieved, fostering collective environmental protection, regardless of nationality. Through mountain cleaning activities, garbage classification awareness was enhanced. The promotional videos lasted approximately two minutes, featuring proper garbage classification. These short videos can be played on the campus’s TV screens across various locations to familiarize students with these principles, encourage better campus stewardship, and prompt practical implementation of garbage classification in their everyday routines. Initially intending to hold two classes for international students, the class hours were increased to four owing to the outcome, surpassing the expected number of participating students (

Table 4. KPI for class dissemination.

	Number of Departments	Number of Students
KPI	2	60
Actual Quantity	4	112

, Figure 2).

4.2. Mountain Cleaning

Foreign students were invited to join the mountain cleaning movement, where, in addition to collecting trash, various games were organized to facilitate cultural exchanges between Taiwanese and foreign students. This collaborative effort not only upheld campus cleanliness but also fostered new friendships. The collected wastes were sorted to reinforce the participants’ understanding of garbage classification. This event disseminated knowledge regarding environmental issues and conservation, awakened environmental awareness, and motivated active involvement in environmental preservation.

The mountain cleaning initiative targeted foreign students attending the Chaoyang University of Technology. There were Vietnamese students enrolled in the Department of Marketing and Logistics Management and Mongolian students in the Department of Information Management, encompassing 24 students. The participants in this study are shown in

Table 5. Participants in this study.

Department	Grade	Numbers
Department of Marketing and Logistics Management	Freshman	14
Department of Information Management	Freshman Sophomore Junior	10

.

As depicted in Figure 3, the anticipated participant count was initially 24, yet the actual number of participants was 30. While the projected amount of waste was estimated to reach one ton, the factual accumulation amounted to merely three kilograms. The KPI of mountain cleaning are shown in

Table 6. KPI for mountain cleaning.

	Number of Attendances	Amounts of Garbage
KPI	24	5 kg
Actual Quantity	30	6 kg

.

Foreign students were invited to join in filming promotional videos on purifying the campus. The contents of the three videos are about littering on campus, forgetting to take away the trash in the middle of class, and littering unwashed lunch boxes. These are often overlooked in campus life. The videos allowed them to understand this basic common sense, emphasizing actions within ‘green behavior’ to take care of the campus and remind others to clean the campus using garbage classification in daily life (Figure 4). The number of cleaned classrooms exceeded that of the initial plan owing to the collaborative involvement of foreign students. This joint effort streamlined the process of cleaning an extra five classrooms. The video showcased substantial garnered attention, with students and teachers frequently pausing to watch as they passed through the area. As a result, the number of viewers exceeded initial expectations (

Table 7. KPI for a clean campus.

	Number of Classrooms	Number of Views
KPI	10	500
Actual Quantity	15	800

).

5. Conclusions and Recommendations

In the program of this study, foreign students came to understand how to classify garbage and the importance of garbage classification. Beyond simply promoting Taiwan’s garbage sorting methods, hands-on practice sessions were offered to allow participants from various countries to comprehend classification guidelines. This activity allowed for an understanding of the steps and significance of garbage sorting, aiding foreign students in grasping the intricacies of the future through clean mountains and garbage classification to carry out an environmental movement. In this study, environmental cleanup and cross-cultural communication were executed, heightening participants’ awareness of environmental protection. Using the promotional video, waste sorting practices were advertised on campus. International students were invited to participate in this study. The video content highlighted the common neglect of waste sorting during daily garbage disposal. By demonstrating the correct practices in the video, green behaviors were widely adopted.

It is necessary to include more event details to enhance the report’s liveliness. Subsequently, to organize a relevant movement, precise time management and the preparation of additional tools for emergencies are demanded. When filming a video, an indoor setting is recommended. Using a more natural approach, authenticity can be added to the content to enhance relatability and avoid an overtly staged appearance. Encouraging student participation and engaging teachers are also recommended. It is necessary to include diverse nationalities. Regarding environmental movements, it is essential to clean mountainous areas and beaches or communities. Additionally, it is recommended to refer to foreign universities’ programs, such as a garbage marathon.