Students want university courses to seriously address environmental issues, according to a uniquely wide-ranging survey of young people's expectations of the future by UCAS and the sustainable-development charity Forum for the Future. Respondents see education as key to tackling this challenge, and want college courses to address environmental issues seriously.

The Future Leaders Survey 2006-2007, a major report published on 24 January, provides a fascinating and challenging insight into the hopes, fears and expectations of 54,240 of the UK's brightest young people - respondents to a questionnaire sent to all university and college applicants aged 17-21 for the academic year 2006-2007. The findings suggest a widespread sense that today's business and political leaders are failing us on climate change but provide a powerful mandate from young people to take radical action.

The survey found that being provided with the knowledge and skills to tackle sustainable development issues - conducting ourselves today in a way that doesn't compromise the ability of future generations to meet their needs - is an important factor for many young people considering a choice of college or university.

In looking for an appropriate course, sustainable development is particularly significant for architecture, building and planning applicants (74% regarding it as important or very important), social studies applicants (64%), education applicants (63%) and engineering applicants (61%). Applicants for courses in social sciences, education, architecture, building and planning are those most likely to regard a university or college's track record on sustainable development issues to be important. Veterinary and agriculture applicants and applicants for courses in creative arts and design, social sciences and social studies are those most likely to be driven by environmental concerns when making career or employment choices, deciding how to vote or choosing a car or bank.

Quotes

"The attitudes of the young people we have surveyed towards pressing matters of the day will be highly influential in the years to come," says Anthony McClaran, Chief Executive of UCAS.

"The future of our country, even our planet, is in their hands. Our findings show that many value less tangible benefits - community, empathy and engagement with what is important - more highly than simply a well paid career."

Other key survey findings

Survey respondents think of themselves as more affected by crime, less healthy, more worried about the future and more materialistic than their parents' generation. Yet they still look more for their own happiness to non-material things such as having an interesting job (regarded as 'very important' by 79%) or spending time with family and friends (59%) than to material aims like a well-paid job (33%) or owning a car (26%) or having the latest gadgets (4%).

Asked to consider what the world will be like in 25 years, a narrow majority expect quality of life in the UK to have improved but 91% think climate change will be hitting hard and 80% think inequality between rich and poor countries will grow. Two thirds believe global oil reserves will have run out, 74% expect to be talking to their computers instead of using a keyboard and 70% think tigers will be extinct in the wild. Most are optimistic that human civilisation will survive into the next century, but 76% believe lifestyles need to change radically across the board or in many areas for this to be achieved.

Compared to their parents at the same age, 65% of this generation of university applicants see themselves as more materialistic and only 6% think they are less so. Only 9% think they are less affected by crime, with 57% believing they are worse affected. Only 16% believe their generation is healthier, with 36% believing they are less healthy. On the positive side 55% believe they are more concerned about the environment than their parents were - pointing to a growth in awareness and commitment which is essential if the challenges of climate change are to be faced.

Female respondents to the survey are less optimistic about the future than their male counterparts, feel more strongly that change is needed and are more prepared to contribute to that change. Whereas 55% of men think it very likely that human civilisation will survive into the 22nd century, only 39% of women feel the same way. Women are more likely to rate the importance of spending time with friends (64% v 53% of men) and having a job that contributes to society (25% v 18%). They are also more likely to have walked or cycled or bought local food for environmental reasons.

Walking or cycling instead of travelling by car (62%) was the form of individual environmental action suggested in the survey questionnaire that had already been taken by the most respondents. A further 15% anticipated doing so within ten years. Of the other actions included in the survey that respondents had taken for environmental reasons:

• 40% had bought locally produced food instead of imports

• 34% had avoided large chain stores and favoured locally owned shops

• 22% had taken part in a demonstration or protest march and 17% had written to their MPs

• 17% had taken a holiday in the UK instead of overseas

• 26% had joined a Third World development charity, and

• 14% an environmental charity or pressure group.

For more information or to arrange an interview contact Eleanor Stevens (UCAS) on 01242 545707 or 07768 740461.

Notes to editors

1. Media coverage of the Future Leaders Survey 2006-2007 is strictly embargoed to 00.01 hrs on Wednesday 24 January.

2. Representatives of Forum for the Future and UCAS are available for pre-launch interview and on the day of publication. Peter Madden and Anthony McClaran will be among those taking part in a launch briefing for key environmental and higher education figures that will also be open to the media. The event takes place at 5pm on 23 January at Channel 4, 124 Horseferry Road, London SW1.

3. A full pdf of the 2006-2007 report will be available for journalists to download (under strict embargo of 00.01hrs 24 January) from Friday 19 January at www.futureleaderssurvey.org.uk

4. Forum for the Future and UCAS wish to express their thanks to British Gas, Channel 4, HBOS and Unilever UK for sponsoring the publication of this research and the launch event.

5. Forum for the Future is the UK's leading sustainable development charity. Its aim is to show that a sustainable world is both possible and desirable. It works with forward-looking organisations in business and the public sector to find practical ways to build a future that is environmentally viable, socially just and economically prosperous. www.forumforthefuture.org.uk

6. UCAS is the not-for-profit organisation that manages applications for full-time undergraduate courses at UK universities and colleges. See www.ucas.com for further information about the services provided by UCAS.

Eleanor Stevens, Senior Communications Executive
Tel: 01242 545707
Email: communications@ucas.ac.uk