Embedding Sustainability Competences into Engineering Education. The Case of Informatics Engineering and Industrial Engineering Degree Programs at Spanish Universities

Rafael Miñano Rubio, Diego Uribe, Ana Moreno-Romero and Susana Yáñez
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Rafael Miñano Rubio: ETS Ingeniería de Sistemas Informáticos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28031 Madrid, Spain
Diego Uribe: ETS Ingenieros Industriales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28006 Madrid, Spain
Ana Moreno-Romero: ETS Ingenieros Industriales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28006 Madrid, Spain
Susana Yáñez: ETS Ingenieros Industriales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28006 Madrid, Spain

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 20, 1-29

Abstract: The incorporation of sustainability in universities finds the greatest barriers in the field of teaching. The curricula do not usually cover all dimensions of sustainability as most of the experiences are isolated and they do not reach all students. Within a larger study, an exploratory investigation has been carried out on how sustainability competences are being integrated into the programs of both Informatics Engineering and Industrial Engineering degrees of 25 Spanish universities. The main findings suggest that existing courses in the domain of the humanities and engineering projects, as well as the final degree project, are very appropriate areas for developing a holistic and reflective approach. Likewise, there is a lack of environmental issues in Informatics Engineering, and ethical issues do not usually appear in Industrial Engineering courses. In general, there is no systematic and strategic integration along the degree programs. However, inspiring practices have been identified to propose lines of action and a curriculum model to embed sustainability into engineering education coherently and effectively. In addition, some reflections on drivers, opportunities, and challenges to achieve it are presented.

Keywords: sustainability; engineering education; curriculum; strategic approach; holistic approach (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (17)

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