Exploring gender differences in sustainable project management competencies and awareness of the sustainable development goals (SDGs)

This study investigates whether gender differences exist in the levels of sustainable project management competencies and awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 9 (Resilient Infrastructure) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), among College of Business students at Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University. A questionnaire was employed to assess six key sustainable competencies: communication, leadership, management, cognitive ability, effectiveness, and professionalism. The sample consisted of 63 students from diverse business disciplines, including accounting, finance, management information systems, and human resources. The questionnaire was developed based on an extensive review of the literature and validated by experienced educators. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and the Mann-Whitney U test to examine gender differences in competency levels and SDG awareness. The findings reveal significant gender differences, with female students demonstrating higher mean ranks across all competencies and SDG awareness compared to their male counterparts. These results suggest that gender may play a significant role in the development of sustainable project management competencies and the understanding of global sustainability challenges. This study contributes to the literature by offering valuable insights into how gender influences students' potential to engage with SDGs, particularly SDG 9 and SDG 11. The findings emphasize the importance of incorporating sustainable project management competencies into academic curricula to enhance students' awareness of SDGs, and they highlight the need for gendersensitive educational strategies that promote inclusive sustainability education.