DEVELOPMENT MODEL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY AMONG PROSPECTIVE TEACHERS IN A DIGITAL COLLEGE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT: DIAGNOSIS AND EXPERIMENTAL VALIDATION

This study presents the development and empirical validation of a pedagogical model aimed at fostering environmental responsibility among prospective teachers within the digital learning environment of pedagogical colleges. The relevance of the research is determined by the need to move beyond declarative environmental education toward measurable behavioural transformation in the context of sustainable development and digitalization of vocational teacher training in Kazakhstan. The purpose of the article is to develop and empirically validate a pedagogical model for the formation of environmental responsibility among future teachers in a digital educational environment, as well as to evaluate its effectiveness based on a comprehensive diagnosis of cognitive, value, behavioral and digital competencies. The empirical study was conducted during the 2024–2025 academic year in two pedagogical colleges of the West Kazakhstan region and involved 165 students aged 16–20. The Eco-TeacherResponsibility (ETR) diagnostic toolkit was developed to assess four components of environmental responsibility: cognitive awareness, value orientation, behavioural readiness, and digital ecological competence. The results demonstrate statistically significant improvements following a structured formative intervention (p < 0.001; Cohen’s d = 0.82). The proportion of students with a high level of environmental responsibility increased from 15% to 44%, while the share of those at a low level decreased from 49% to 11%. The findings confirm that the systematic integration of digital technologies, project-based learning, and value-oriented pedagogical support contributes to sustainable behavioural change among future teachers.

1. Ma Y., Zhang L., Chen X. Education for sustainable development and the UN SDGs: Integrating environmental goals into curricula. Sustainability. №14(10). 2022. Р.62 [in English]

2. O’Grady M. Transformative education for sustainable development: A faculty perspective. Реnvironment, Development Sustainability. 2025. 67 р. [in English]

3. Kopnina G. Education for the future? A critical assessment of education for sustainable development. Journal of Environmental Education. 2020. Р.280–291. [in English]

4. Bhatt R. Integrating cognitive, value-based, and behavioral dimensions in environmental education. Journal of Environmental Education. № 54(2). 2020. Р.145–162. [in English]

5. Sharma A., Malaviya A. Environmental education for sustainable development: Cognitive, motivational, and behavioral integration. Sustainability. 2023. 75 р. [in English]

6. Busygina A. L., Bakulina S. Y., Lizunova E. V., Vershinina L. V. Educational environment as a factor in ecological culture formation of prospective teachers. Samara Journal of Science. №12(1). 2023. Р.250–255. [in English]

7. Mdivani R. Systemic approaches to environmental education in professional training. Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences. №14(1). 2024. Р.57–73. [in English]

8. Dlimbetova G. K., Bulatbayeva K. N., Abenova S. U., Sandibekova A. K. (2020). Didactic principles of training in the context of ecologization of vocational education. Bulletin of the L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. Pedagogy. Psychology. Sociology Series. № 132(3).2020. Р.55–66. [in English]

9. Sandibekova G., Dlimbetova A., Dzyatkovskaya E. Developing eco-competence in students within pedagogical education. Journal of Teacher Education for Sustainability. № 26(1). 2024. Р. 59–78. [in English]

10. Agbedahīn A. V. (2019). Sustainable development and Agenda 2030: Emergence and effectiveness. Sustainable Development, 27. 2019. - Р.669–680. [in English]

11. Castellanos P. M., Keuruga Dios A. From environmental to sustainable education in higher education: A systematic review. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 23. 2021.Р.622–644. [in English]

12. Hamid S., Ijab M. T., Suleiman H., Anwar R. M.,Norman, A. A. Social media for environmental sustainability awareness in higher education. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 2020. № 21(2). Р.474–491. [in English]

13. Povidaychyk Y., Hryn Y.Integrating sustainability into teacher education: Evidence-based practices. Environmental Education Research. № 30(2). 2024. Р.221–240. [in English]

14. Tian W., Ge J., Zheng X., Zhao Y., Deng T., Yan H. Understanding the landscape of education for sustainable development: A bibliometric review. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 11. 2024.Р.12-13. [in English]

15. Wang X., Liu Y., Zhang, P.Climate risks and ecosystem degradation: Policy implications. Environmental Science Policy, 148. 2024. Р.105–118. [in English]