Abstract:

Information literacy is defined as the competence, aptitude and knowledge to access, to use, to administrate and to communicate properly the information within the aim of study, research or even for the professional exercise.

In our current information society to get and to understand correctly the information and to deal with it is a guarantee for successful outcomes.

That is the reason why University, as an education institution must guarantee the acquisition of the whole set of competences that allow students to search, assess and analyze the information needed related to any knowledge area. It is important to highlight that this becomes essential in a digital world as the one we have. For that, communication and information technology (C&IT) become necessary to allow students to access to a wide range of information resource. It is not only a matter of finding out the information, but to analyze and apply the information to generate new knowledge.

Engineering schools must develop clear strategies to address the acquisition and application of this competence using these technologies. This research is focused on the application process to acquire the information literacy competence for civil engineering students related to environmental impact. For that purpose, different stage in the information literacy process has been defined and deeply analyze. The most difficulties founded by students are discussed and some methodologies to enhance the process are proposed.

Keywords:

Information literacy, engineering, environment, competences.