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Incorporation of Sustainability Concepts into the Engineering Core Program by Adopting a Micro Curriculum Approach: A Case Study in Saudi Arabia

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  • Muhammad Waqar Ashraf

    (Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University, Alkhobar 31952, Saudi Arabia)

  • Faisal Alanezi

    (Department of Management Information Systems, Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University, Alkhobar 31952, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

Higher education institutions are increasingly pursuing sustainable development goals in engineering and technology education. The concepts related to operations, production, and consumption continue to gain importance and significance for engineering students. In the engineering profession, the incorporation of sustainability means integrating environmental, economic, and social factors into the evaluation of design processes, products, and services. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an engineering program that along with the technical content, also fosters a critical sense regarding the social and environmental aspects of the field. The current status of sustainability education in engineering programs offered in Saudi universities is not very promising. In this paper, we explore the use of existing university curricula to incorporate sustainability elements into engineering education and training. Sustainability concepts were introduced into selected courses by using a micro-curriculum approach. Moreover, a standalone course is also introduced. We observed that this approach has been successful in integrating sustainability into the engineering curriculum. We recommend that such an approach be used to develop sustainability awareness in engineering programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Muhammad Waqar Ashraf & Faisal Alanezi, 2020. "Incorporation of Sustainability Concepts into the Engineering Core Program by Adopting a Micro Curriculum Approach: A Case Study in Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-11, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:7:p:2901-:d:341813
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Habib M. Alshuwaikhat & Yusuf A. Adenle & Bilal Saghir, 2016. "Sustainability Assessment of Higher Education Institutions in Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(8), pages 1-16, August.
    2. Denise Wilson, 2019. "Exploring the Intersection between Engineering and Sustainability Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-16, June.
    3. Tom Dedeurwaerdere, 2013. "Transdisciplinary Sustainability Science at Higher Education Institutions: Science Policy Tools for Incremental Institutional Change," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(9), pages 1-19, September.
    4. Ismaila R. Abubakar & Faez S. Al-Shihri & Sayed M. Ahmed, 2016. "Students’ Assessment of Campus Sustainability at the University of Dammam, Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-14, January.
    5. Gillian Bowser & Ulrike Gretzel & Elizabeth Davis & Mark Brown, 2014. "Educating the Future of Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(2), pages 1-10, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Runna Alghazo & Maura A. E. Pilotti, 2021. "The Sustainability of Institutional Policies Starts with “Know Thyself”," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-13, April.
    2. Qiao Chen & Huiyong Yin & Jianguo Feng, 2023. "Construction of Course Content Integrating Ideas of Engineering Education Accreditation for Higher Education in China: An Example of Geochemistry Course," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-14, August.
    3. Maura A. E. Pilotti, 2021. "What Lies beneath Sustainable Education? Predicting and Tackling Gender Differences in STEM Academic Success," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-15, February.
    4. Qiao Chen & Xuewenyu Wang & Huiyong Yin & Jianguo Feng, 2023. "Design of an Exploratory Experiment in Teaching for Engineering Education Accreditation: Fluoride Geochemical Simulation during Water–Rock Interactions under the Effect of Seawater Intrusion," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-15, August.
    5. Ibifuro Ken-Giami & Sarinova Simandjuntak & Linda Yang & Ann Coats & David Sanders, 2022. "Establishing the Relative Importance of Specific Sustainability Themes That Influence Women’s Choice of Engineering as a Career Using the Analytical Hierarchy Process," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-26, January.
    6. Gaydaa Al-Zohbi & Maura A. E. Pilotti, 2023. "Contradictions about Sustainability: A Case Study of College Students from Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-15, February.
    7. Rebeka Kovačič Lukman & Vasja Omahne & Lobna Tag el Sheikh & Peter Glavič, 2021. "Integrating Sustainability into Logistics Oriented Education in Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-24, February.

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