Abstract:

The 2030 Agenda is a commitment to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development by 2030 world-wide, ensuring that no one is left behind. It defines 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their corresponding 169 specific targets. The SDG framework has a specific goal on Education (SDG4: Ensure Inclusive and Quality Education for All and Promote Lifelong Learning) and makes explicit reference to higher education. Universities have long been drivers of change and play a key role in supporting the SDGs by becoming an integral part of undergraduate programmes. In 2000 the Global Higher Education for Sustainability Partnership (GHESP) was formed and many other networks have been created or promoted since, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network initiative (SDSN) or the International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN). The University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) has endorsed the sustainable agenda by means of the EHU agenda 2030 (2019-2025) and its panel of indicators which addresses the technical aspects of monitoring the SDGs. In higher engineering education, the need to integrate sustainable development (SD) into undergraduate courses is regarded as increasingly important.

The main goal of this work was to introduce sustainability concepts within two Chemistry modules for first year undergraduate students of different Engineering disciplines (Civil, Electrical, Automation and Industrial Electronic and Mechanical Engineering.). And by doing so, help raise awareness about the significant contribution of engineers in helping achieve several SDGs. First of all, students were asked to answer an initial questionnaire. The aim was to gather information on students' knowledge about the term SD and its goals. This was followed by a mini-lecture on SDG where the specific goals related to their future engineering activities were highlighted. Then, students had to complete several assignments on topics that linked sustainability issues with the content of the chemistry modules syllabus. The covered topics are: “Endangered elements of the periodic table”; “Sustainable concrete”, “Green Chemistry: atom economy”, “Smart mobility”. To complete each task, students had to take an online quiz where they had to apply the information given in the form of e-learning pills. The quizzes were part of the coursework of the chemistry modules.

Keywords:

Sustainable development, engineering education, chemistry module.