Abstract
This study constructs and validates an instrument for evaluating sustainability competencies in higher education, particularly within the context of education for sustainable development. The instrument assesses knowledge, attitudes, and values critical for tackling sustainability challenges. The creation involved expert evaluations and a comprehensive survey of 644 pre-service biology teachers in Indonesia. The analysis employed exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, leading to the identification of seven essential competency dimensions: systems thinking competency, anticipatory competency, normative competency, strategic competency, collaboration competency, self-awareness competency, and problem-solving competency. The analysis categorized these into two primary factors: social competence and collaboration, and critical thinking and sustainable action. The instrument demonstrated reliability and construct validity, evidenced by a Cronbach’s alpha value of 0.88, indicating its robustness. This instrument is a valuable resource for incorporating sustainability competencies into higher education programs and curricula. Future research should implement this in diverse educational settings and integrate qualitative methods to enhance the understanding of sustainability competency development.
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This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Article Type: Research Article
EUR J SUSTAIN DEV RES, Volume 10, Issue 2, 2026, Article No: em0380
https://doi.org/10.29333/ejosdr/17986
Publication date: 01 Apr 2026
Online publication date: 26 Feb 2026
Article Views: 14
Article Downloads: 5
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APA
Pamungkas, S. J., Rohman, F., Al Muhdhar, M. H. I., & Novianti, V. (2026). Developing of the sustainability competencies instrument for pre-service biology teachers. European Journal of Sustainable Development Research, 10(2), em0380. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejosdr/17986
Vancouver
Pamungkas SJ, Rohman F, Al Muhdhar MHI, Novianti V. Developing of the sustainability competencies instrument for pre-service biology teachers. EUR J SUSTAIN DEV RES. 2026;10(2):em0380. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejosdr/17986
AMA
Pamungkas SJ, Rohman F, Al Muhdhar MHI, Novianti V. Developing of the sustainability competencies instrument for pre-service biology teachers. EUR J SUSTAIN DEV RES. 2026;10(2), em0380. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejosdr/17986
Chicago
Pamungkas, Sekar Jati, Fatchur Rohman, Mimien Henie Irawati Al Muhdhar, and Vivi Novianti. "Developing of the sustainability competencies instrument for pre-service biology teachers". European Journal of Sustainable Development Research 2026 10 no. 2 (2026): em0380. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejosdr/17986
Harvard
Pamungkas, S. J., Rohman, F., Al Muhdhar, M. H. I., and Novianti, V. (2026). Developing of the sustainability competencies instrument for pre-service biology teachers. European Journal of Sustainable Development Research, 10(2), em0380. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejosdr/17986
MLA
Pamungkas, Sekar Jati et al. "Developing of the sustainability competencies instrument for pre-service biology teachers". European Journal of Sustainable Development Research, vol. 10, no. 2, 2026, em0380. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejosdr/17986
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