IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i12p5026-d1413739.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Inspiring Sustainability in Undergraduate Engineering Programs

Author

Listed:
  • Tina Griesinger

    (Department of Engineering Education, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA)

  • Kenneth Reid

    (R.B. Annis School of Engineering, University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46227, USA)

  • David Knight

    (Department of Engineering Education, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA)

  • Andrew Katz

    (Department of Engineering Education, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA)

  • John Somers

    (School of Education, University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46227, USA)

Abstract

The number of engineers who are transitioning into environmental sustainability careers is growing, though a gap still exists between the supply and demand. This presents an opportunity for undergraduate engineering students to fulfill the demand as environmental sustainability professionals. This qualitative exploratory study investigated environmental sustainability learning experiences and future career interests in environmental sustainability. The social cognitive theory (SCCT) was utilized as a theoretical lens, exploring undergraduate students’ environmental sustainability interests, related learning experiences and their interest in pursuing a future career in environmental sustainability. Twenty-five undergraduate engineering students in various engineering disciplines were interviewed for this study. Data were analyzed to (1) identify the students’ interest in pursuing a career in environmental sustainability, (2) determine if the students’ interests have changed since they began their undergraduate studies, and (3) explore how learning experiences have impacted the students’ future career choices. The findings posit that exposure to environmental sustainability learning experiences is impactful and plays an important role, impacting the students’ interests in pursuing careers in sustainability. The results reveal that elements such as personal beliefs and salary considerations inspire career choices. This research contributes to addressing the demand for additional working professionals who are prepared to tackle environmental sustainability issues, highlighting the role of learning experiences in shaping students’ career interests.

Suggested Citation

  • Tina Griesinger & Kenneth Reid & David Knight & Andrew Katz & John Somers, 2024. "Inspiring Sustainability in Undergraduate Engineering Programs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-14, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:12:p:5026-:d:1413739
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/12/5026/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/12/5026/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Abhilasha Singh & Patrick Blessinger, 2023. "Examining the Role and Challenges of Sustainable Development Goals for the Universities in the United Arab Emirates," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-18, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Pingping Gui & Gazi Mahabubul Alam & Aminuddin Bin Hassan, 2024. "Whether Socioeconomic Status Matters in Accessing Residential College: Role of RC in Addressing Academic Achievement Gaps to Ensure Sustainable Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-16, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:12:p:5026-:d:1413739. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.