The impact of digital transformation on green behavior of university students in Vietnam
Main Article Content
Abstract
Digital transformation is reshaping higher education through learning-management systems, digital course materials, electronic submission, online administration and data-enabled communication. This teaching case examines how digital transformation exposure is associated with the green behavior of university students in Vietnam. It integrates a decade-long contextual assessment for 2014-2024 with a student-level ordinary least squares (OLS) analysis based on a classroom dataset of 684 observations. Four composite constructs are examined: digital transformation exposure (DTE), environmental awareness (EA), green institutional support (GIS) and the green behavior index (GBI). All scales demonstrate satisfactory internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha values ranging from 0.861 to 0.933. In the fully specified model, DTE (b = 0.233, p < 0.001), EA (b = 0.230, p < 0.001) and GIS (b = 0.203, p < 0.001) are positively associated with GBI. The positive interaction between DTE and GIS (b = 0.093, p < 0.001) indicates that institutional support strengthens the relationship between digital exposure and green behavior. The model explains 38.9% of the variation in GBI. Robustness checks confirm that the principal findings remain stable under alternative specifications. The case demonstrates how digital-campus governance can be linked analytically to resource-saving behavior and student participation in sustainability activities.
Article Details
Section
How to Cite
References
1. Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179–211. https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-T
2. Bamberg, S., & Möser, G. (2007). Twenty years after Hines, Hungerford, and Tomera: A new meta-analysis of psycho-social determinants of pro-environmental behaviour. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 27(1), 14–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2006.12.002
3. Hieu, L. M., Hung, H. T., Trang, T. T., Ngan, P. T. T., Huyen, D. T. T., Kien, N. T., & Hong, N. T. (2022). Factors affecting pro-environmental behaviour among young people: The case of students at University of Economics, Hue University. Hue University Journal of Science: Economics and Development, 131(5A), 219–235. https://doi.org/10.26459/hueunijed.v131i5A.6782
4. Kollmuss, A., & Agyeman, J. (2002). Mind the gap: Why do people act environmentally and what are the barriers to pro-environmental behavior? Environmental Education Research, 8(3), 239–260. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504620220145401
5. Lange, F., & Dewitte, S. (2019). Measuring pro-environmental behavior: Review and recommendations. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 63, 92–100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2019.04.009
6. Prime Minister of Vietnam. (2017, January 25). Decision No. 117/QD-TTg approving the project on strengthening the application of information technology in educational management and support for teaching, learning and scientific research during 2016–2020, with an orientation to 2025. Government Portal of Vietnam. https://vanban.chinhphu.vn/default.aspx?docid=188112&pageid=27160
7. Prime Minister of Vietnam. (2020, June 3). Decision No. 749/QD-TTg approving the National Digital Transformation Program to 2025, with an orientation to 2030. Government Portal of Vietnam. https://vanban.chinhphu.vn/?docid=200163&pageid=27160
8. Prime Minister of Vietnam. (2022, January 25). Decision No. 131/QD-TTg approving the project on strengthening information-technology application and digital transformation in education and training during 2022–2025, with an orientation to 2030. Government Portal of Vietnam. https://vanban.chinhphu.vn/?classid=0&docid=205236&pageid=27160
9. Shafiei, A., & Maleksaeidi, H. (2020). Pro-environmental behavior of university students: Application of protection motivation theory. Global Ecology and Conservation, 22, e00908. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e00908
10. Steg, L., & Vlek, C. (2009). Encouraging pro-environmental behaviour: An integrative review and research agenda. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 29(3), 309–317. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2008.10.004
11. Stern, P. C. (2000). Toward a coherent theory of environmentally significant behavior. Journal of Social Issues, 56(3), 407–424. https://doi.org/10.1111/0022-4537.00175
12. Wooldridge, J. M. (2020). Introductory econometrics: A modern approach (7th ed.). Cengage.
13. World Bank. (n.d.). Individuals using the Internet (% of population) – Viet Nam [Data set]. World Development Indicators. Retrieved June 12, 2026, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IT.NET.USER.ZS?locations=VN