This study examines the development of students’ leadership in water conservation at Batangas State University Alangilan Campus. It aims to assess students’ awareness and understanding of water conservation and to evaluate the effectiveness of an advocacy advertisement video as a tool for promoting student leadership and participation. Using a Likert-scale survey, the research measured students’ perceptions of the video in terms of clarity, accuracy, and its overall influence on their awareness and sense of responsibility toward sustainable water use. Results highlight that visual advocacy materials can enhance students’ engagement and strengthen their leadership potential in promoting water conservation within the campus. The study emphasizes the importance of empowering students as advocates for water conservation and offers valuable insights that can help educators, administrators, and future researchers adopt creative, student-centered strategies to promote responsible water use.
Introduction
The text highlights the growing global and national concern over water scarcity caused by pollution, climate change, urbanization, and irresponsible consumption, emphasizing the need for collective action and responsible water use. In the Philippine context, studies show that awareness, education, and experience strongly influence individuals’ participation in water conservation. At Batangas State University–Alangilan Campus, students are viewed as potential leaders and change-makers who can promote sustainable water practices within and beyond the university.
The study aimed to develop students’ leadership in water conservation by assessing their awareness, evaluating an advertisement video as a tool for engagement, and determining its effectiveness in promoting conservation. Using a descriptive qualitative research design, data were collected from 50 college students through a Likert-scale questionnaire. The advertisement video was developed and used as an intervention to strengthen students’ awareness, responsibility, and leadership in water conservation.
Results showed that students already possessed a high level of awareness about water conservation, strongly recognizing water as a limited resource essential to environmental protection and future sustainability. However, familiarity with specific conservation methods was slightly lower, indicating the need for more practical knowledge. The advertisement video was rated very positively in terms of clarity and accuracy, with students finding its language, visuals, and examples clear, realistic, and applicable to real-life situations.
Conclusion
The following conclusions were drawn:
1) This study emphasizes the advertisement video effectively raised awareness and motivated students to take action.
2) This study highlights that empowering students encourages a more sustainable and environmentally responsible campus community.
References
[1] Ajzen, I. (2020). Applying the theory of planned behavior to environmental responsibility. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 72, 101502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2020.101502
[2] Alonto, C. M. T., Tampipi, M. M., Antopina, R. E., & Zaragoza-Magsayo, M. J. (2023). Water sources and management practices among the household residents of Barangay Labuyo, Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, Philippines. Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES), 22(3), 38-54.
[3] http://www.innspub.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/JBES-V22-No3-p38-54.pdf
[4] Broering, L. A., Michel, J., Henning, E., & others. (2024). An investigation into water consumption by university students: Actions, beliefs, and perceptions. Discover Water, 4, 114. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43832-024-00176-9
[5] Everett, M. W., Eustice, C. L., McKim, A. J., Carlisle, D., Saby, T., van der Merwe, C., Malherbe, M., & Kriek, C. (2025). Ecosystem function through Lessons in Conservation: Alleviating youth stressors through education, access, and careers. Natural Sciences Education, 54(1), Article e70015.
[6] https://doi.org/10.1002/nse2.70015
[7] Gherhe?, V., &Cernicova-Buca, M. (2025). Reducing water consumption on a student campus through communication campaigns. Sustainability, 17, 680.
[8] https://doi.org/10.3390/su17020680
[9] Hunt, D. V. L., & Shahab, Z. (2021). Sustainable water use practices: Understanding and awareness of master’s level students. Sustainability, 13(19), 10499. https://doi.org/10.3390/su131910499
[10] Kaul L., Schrögel P., and Humm C. (2020) Environmental Science Communication for a Young Audience: A Case Study on the
[11] #EarthOvershootDay Campaign on YouTube .
[12] Front. Commun. 5:601177.
[13] https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2020.601177
[14] Lal, M., Sood, A., Thakur, P., & Kumar, A. (2023). Creating awareness on water conservation among students: A Hamirpur study. International Journal of Advanced Community Medicine, 6(2), 43–46. https://www.comedjournal.com/archives/2023.v6.i2.a.263
[15] Lopez, J., & Mendoza, F. (2023). Student-led media advocacy and environmental leadership. BatStateU Research Journal, 11(2), 22–30. (Local University Repository)
[16] Petty, R. E., & Cacioppo, J. T. (2021). The elaboration likelihood model in environmental media persuasion. Journal of Media Psychology, 33(2), 85–94.https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0270467620977683
[17] Pozo-Muñoz, M. P., Martín-Gámez, C., Velasco-Martínez, L. C., &Tójar-Hurtado, J. C. (2023). Research and development of environmental awareness about water in primary education students through their drawings. Education Sciences, 13(2), 119. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13020119
[18] Sánchez, C., Bianchi, E. C., Rodriguez-Sanchez, C., & Sancho-Esper, F. (2023). Are advertising campaigns for water conservation in Latin America persuasive? A mixed-method approach. International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, 21, 341–369. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12208-023-00386-2
[19] Silvert, C. J., Warner, L. A., Loizzo, J., & Shellhouse, J. A. (2021). Social media split testing and message framing: Emerging capacities to encourage residential water conservation. Applied Environmental Education & Communication, 20(4), 334-346.
[20] https://doi.org/10.1080/1533015X.2021.1887779
[21] Singha, B., Eljamal, O., Karmaker, S. C., Maamoun, I., &Sugihira, Y. (2022) Water conservation behavior: Exploring the role of social, psychological, and behavioral determinants. Journal of Environmental Management, 321, 115915.
[22] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115484
[23] UNESCO. (2021). Water education for sustainable development. Paris, France: UNESCO.
[24] https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000378842