Abstract:

In this article, we present our approach to integrating sustainability principles into engineering students. This is achieved by offering Open Educational Resources (OER) at three levels: basic, advanced, and integrated or proficiency. This is intended to help educators and institutions to best suits their specific programs and classes.

To define the framework underpinning the program, a comprehensive set of competencies has been developed to guide the integration of sustainability into engineering curricula across all disciplines. Twelve competencies have been created based on the UNESCO and EU Recommendation for Engineering Education on Sustainability and on our findings from a study of the status of higher education institutions in Europe and the demands posed by real-world challenges. This competency framework, supported by a set of skills and knowledge and understanding, and driven through consistent pedagogies, offers a coherent roadmap for preparing professionals who can actively contribute to the achievement of the SDGs, embedding systems thinking, the inclusion of diverse knowledge systems, responsible innovation, and collective action. This approach is the goal of the EESF project (Enginering Education for a sustainable Future), an international collaboration, funded by the European Union, Erasmus +

This article presents the process of reducing the sustainable competencies to twelve, organizing them into four blocks or modules: Holistic Engineering for Impact: Integrating Systems Thinking, Social Responsibility, and a Multidisciplinary Approach; Transversal Skills for Leadership in Sustainable Engineering; Life Cycle Analysis; and Innovation for Global Challenges. Our goal is to offer diverse, ready-to-use resources that any teacher can use as microlearning integrated into regular classrooms for any subject. The discussion presents the key elements considered and the interdisciplinary work carried out with the contributions of the project partners.

Keywords:

Sustainable Competencies, Sustainable Engineering, SDGs, OERs for Engineering.