Abstract:

The 21st century is seeing the growing role of electromobility in urban public transport systems and their supply chains, driven by decarbonization priorities. In this context, electromobility is a complex sociotechnical transformation operating amid uncertainty and complexity. This demands the graduate profiles capable of managing complex, dynamic, human-centred systems that are data-driven and guided by ethical governance. However, a gap persists between the systemic complexity of electromobility and the competencies currently developed in higher education, limiting the sustainable management of urban public transport systems. In this address, the paper argues that effective management of electromobility systems requires integrating sustainability principles, governance mechanisms, and ethics into data-intensive systems. So, the objective is to identify and theoretically ground the core professional competencies required for the sustainable management of urban public transport systems and electromobility supply chains. The study adopts a Design Science Research (DSR) approach to develop a competency-based artefact. The process involves identifying competency gaps, defining competencies based on sustainability science and agency theory, and developing an analytical framework. This framework integrates principles of AI ethics to address challenges related to algorithmic decision-making, accountability, and human oversight. The results identify five core competencies: Systems Thinking for Sustainability; Data-Informed Decision-Making for Sustainability; Digital Integration and AI; Sustainable Systems and Lifecycle Management; and Ethical and Responsible Governance. Together, configure a framework that recognises and enables professionals to operate within ecological limits while ensuring transparent, accountable, and human-centred governance. This study advances the literature by providing a structured, operationalizable framework that can also serve to guide the design of educational programs aligned with sustainability. that links electromobility system demands with competency-based training.

Keywords:

Professional competencies, strong sustainability, electromobility systems, AI ethics.