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Enhancing Learning Environments Through Landscape Planning, Case Study of Plateau State Polytechnic (Main Campus, Heipang), Barkin Ladi, Plateau State, Nigeria

Mailumo Anthony Sambo

Abstract

This paper examines how holistic landscape design may be used to improve learning environments and improve the wellbeing of students in Nigerian tertiary institutions, using Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin Ladi as a case study. Although physical infrastructural facilities in higher institutions of learning have increased swiftly, slight consideration has been given to landscape planning, leading to poorly preserved green areas, insufficient spaces for recreation, and an unpleasant campus environment. Using a descriptive research design method that combined questionnaires, field observations, and surveys, the research assessed students' perceptions of the existing landscape and its impact on well-being and academic performance. Findings disclosed that 74.7% of the students judged the current campus landscape as poor or very poor owing to weak aesthetic and ecological quality. The most prevalent landscape elements on campus were playing fields and outdoor seating areas, though lawns and water bodies were mostly absent. In spite of these oversights, the majority of respondents valued the contribution of landscaping: 80.5% agreed it supports a good academic environment, 81.7% reported mental health improvements, and 80.3% felt academic performance was improved in association with exposure to green spaces. Also, 83.1% felt outdoor environments improve the retention of information. Vital challenges acknowledged include inadequate seating (71.8%), noise disturbances (40.8%), and nighttime safety concerns (78.9%). The study concludes that adopting holistic, inclusive, and ecologically sensitive landscape design can improve campus conditions at large, enabling better psychological well-being, concentration, social interaction, and sustainable institutional development.

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