A Service-Learning Based Computers Reuse Program

Fermín Sánchez-Carracedo and David López
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Fermín Sánchez-Carracedo: Department of Computer Architecture, University Research Institute for Sustainability Science and Technology, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya—UPC-BarcelonaTech, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
David López: Department of Computer Architecture, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya—UPC-BarcelonaTech, 08034 Barcelona, Spain

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 14, 1-32

Abstract: Higher Education Institutions are facing a challenging situation: how to introduce concepts such as Sustainability or the Circular Economy into their curricula. This study presents how to organize a Computer Reuse Program, an educational proposal for the Reuse, Repair, Refurbishment, Remanufacture and Recycling of computers into a Curriculum and a case study. The proposal is based in the Service-Learning methodology, by which students develop technical and professional skills while undertaking a project that has a direct and real impact on society. Students work on old or broken computers provided by donors, thereby acquiring technical skills. These now flawlessly functioning computers are donated to NGOs and other non-profit organizations, thus endowing the equipment with a much longer life as well as reducing e-waste, one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the world. As a case study, this paper presents the UPC Computer Reuse Program, carried out at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya UPC-BarcelonaTech. Since the program started in 2004, some 2500 computers have been donated to 359 different organizations in 29 countries, and more than 5200 students have participated. The paper analyzes the impact of the program on society, on the reduction of e-waste, on the environment and on student awareness regarding social justice and sustainability.

Keywords: sustainability; education for sustainable development; service learning; computer reuse; repair; refurbishment; remanufacture and recycling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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