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Sustainable Civil Engineering: Incorporating Sustainable Development Goals in Higher Education Curricula

Author

Listed:
  • Irantzu Álvarez

    (Department of Graphical Expression and Engineering Projects, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, P° Rafael Moreno Pitxitxi, 2, 48013 Bilbao, Spain)

  • Paulo Etxeberria

    (Department of Graphical Expression and Engineering Projects, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, P° Rafael Moreno Pitxitxi, 2, 48013 Bilbao, Spain)

  • Elisabete Alberdi

    (Department of Applied Mathematics, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, P° Rafael Moreno Pitxitxi, 2, 48013 Bilbao, Spain)

  • Heriberto Pérez-Acebo

    (Mechanical Engineering Department, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, P° Rafael Moreno Pitxitxi, 2, 48013 Bilbao, Spain)

  • Isabel Eguia

    (Department of Applied Mathematics, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, P° Rafael Moreno Pitxitxi, 2, 48013 Bilbao, Spain)

  • María José García

    (Department of Graphical Expression and Engineering Projects, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, P° Rafael Moreno Pitxitxi, 2, 48013 Bilbao, Spain)

Abstract

In the current climate emergency context, many national and international organizations have adopted measures to integrate sustainability and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in all their fields of action. Within education, steps have been taken to incorporate the perspective of sustainability at all levels. This process has also started at the university since it plays a fundamental role in the strategy for the implementation of specific policies to promote sustainability. However, sometimes it is difficult to include this type of knowledge in the curriculum, due to the lack of flexibility of the university structure or the lack of time to cover the syllabus. In this scenario, civil engineering plays a main role as a fundamental activity in the creation of services and infrastructures with a high environmental impact. The objective of this study is to show a multidisciplinary approach to working on sustainability in a transversal way in the civil engineering degree and to analyze the impact that this type of initiative can have from the learning point of view. The study shows a curricular trajectory supported by problem-based learning and project-based learning designed to promote sustainability in the practice of civil engineering. The good results obtained in the evaluation of the project and the growing incorporation of the SDGs in the final degree projects suggest that this methodology can be implemented by other university degrees.

Suggested Citation

  • Irantzu Álvarez & Paulo Etxeberria & Elisabete Alberdi & Heriberto Pérez-Acebo & Isabel Eguia & María José García, 2021. "Sustainable Civil Engineering: Incorporating Sustainable Development Goals in Higher Education Curricula," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-16, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:16:p:8967-:d:612130
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. José M. Coronado & Amparo Moyano & Vicente Romero & Rita Ruiz & Javier Rodríguez, 2021. "Student Long-Term Perception of Project-Based Learning in Civil Engineering Education: An 18-Year Ex-Post Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-16, February.
    2. Gisela Cebrián & Mercè Junyent, 2015. "Competencies in Education for Sustainable Development: Exploring the Student Teachers’ Views," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-19, March.
    3. United Nations UN, 2015. "Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," Working Papers id:7559, eSocialSciences.
    4. José Ángel Aranda & Norena Martin-Dorta & Ferran Naya & Julián Conesa-Pastor & Manuel Contero, 2020. "Sustainability and Interoperability: An Economic Study on BIM Implementation by a Small Civil Engineering Firm," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-16, November.
    5. Bo Peng & Xiaoying Tong & Shijiang Cao & Wenying Li & Gui Xu, 2020. "Carbon Emission Calculation Method and Low-Carbon Technology for Use in Expressway Construction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-18, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mikhail Deev & Leyla Gamidullaeva & Alexey Finogeev & Anton Finogeev & Sergey Vasin, 2021. "The Convergence Model of Education for Sustainability in the Transition to Digital Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-17, October.
    2. María Garrido-Ruso & Beatriz Aibar-Guzmán & Albertina Paula Monteiro, 2022. "Businesses’ Role in the Fulfillment of the 2030 Agenda: A Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-35, July.

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