The impact of the youth’s value orientations on the perception of the ESG agenda

The article considers the impact of students’ value orientations on their perception of the ESG agenda (Environmental, Social and Governance) in Russia. Based on Schwartz’s theory of basic human values, the authors developed a methodological framework for the sociological survey assessing the relationship between youth’s value orientations and their perception of the ESG agenda. When selecting a sociological model to represent value orientations, the authors conducted a comparative analysis of several methodologies to provide the rationale for the chosen survey tool. The study evaluates the relationship between personal core values and attitudes toward sustainable development principles. The structure of the research tool incorporates key perceptual properties such as meaningfulness, generality, integrity, selectivity, constancy and objectivity. The questionnaire included two levels of abstraction and a set of indicators. The sample consisted of four groups of students as future actors in implementing the ESG agenda in the Russian business and state sustainable development policies. In the sample of 321 respondents, 61 % were women and 39 % were men; 87 % were aged 18–25. Respondents were divided into four educational groups: undergraduate students (1st and 4th years), master’s and postgraduate students. The survey showed that 56 % were familiar with the term “ESG” but its understanding varied depending on the educational level. Environmental issues were identified as the highest priority (67 %) while corporate governance was of the least interest (52 %). The authors note insufficient integration of ESG issues into university curricula (only 22 % of students studied relevant disciplines) and provide recommendations for the higher education system. Thus, the study contributes to understanding the youth’s values and motivation in the context of sustainable development and emphasizes the need to adapt educational standards to the global ESG trends. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.