Implementing Resilience and Sustainability into Undergraduate Engineering Curricula: A Qualitative Study with Faculty

Dazhi Yang (), Bhaskar Chittoori, Karen Krier and Shi Feng
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Dazhi Yang: Department of Educational Leadership, Research, and Technology, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, USA
Bhaskar Chittoori: Civil Engineering Department, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, USA
Karen Krier: Department of Management, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, USA
Shi Feng: Department of Psychology, Cal Poly Humboldt, Arcata, CA 91401, USA

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 16, 1-22

Abstract: This study investigates the concurrent implementation of resilience and sustainability concepts into undergraduate engineering curricula. Specifically, it examines the instructional strategies the faculty adopted, the most important aspects and applications of the two concepts, and the challenges faced in implementation. A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was conducted with eight faculty members from four engineering disciplines. Faculty members employed various instructional strategies such as general discussions, project-based learning, and guest lectures. They considered practicality, the triple bottom line principle, and liability and environmental issues to be the most important aspects of sustainability. They also considered resiliency and rapidity or time recovery to be the most important aspects of resilience. Time constraint was the most common challenge for implementing resilience and sustainability. Packed curricula, struggles in finding the right strategy, students’ lack of motivation, and difficulty in teaching such concepts in introductory courses were also major challenges. As a result, students showed improvements in knowledge and attitudes, particularly regarding sustainability. This study offers practical insights for embedding both concepts into engineering education and recommends further research into instructional strategies and documentation to support integration.

Keywords: sustainability; resilience; sustainable development; engineering education; instructional strategies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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