Advancing Sustainability in Engineering Education
On 26–27 September 2024, the SUSEE project partners convened for a productive in-person workshop in Bolzano. The meeting took place at the Technology Park of the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (unibz), providing an inspiring and collaborative environment for in-depth discussions on course development, innovative teaching methods, and the integration of sustainability into engineering education. The event brought together over 20 participants from four universities, including a group of six students, and focused on key activities under Work Package 3 (WP3).
The workshop aimed to consolidate progress on the modular course on sustainability-oriented engineering, which will be closely integrated with the Virtual Learning Series (VLS) and summer/winter schools. The framework for the modular course was confirmed, with clear thematic links to the VLS and seasonal schools. The VLS will begin on 29 October 2024. Discussions addressed technical delivery options (synchronous, asynchronous, hybrid) and didactic approaches for the VLS. The team agreed on a range of engaging teaching methods tailored to students at different levels. These include direct instruction, practical case studies, problem-based learning, educational games, and group work.
A preliminary structure for the course, tentatively titled “Sustainability-Oriented Engineering”, was developed based on existing teaching materials and gap analysis from previous work. The course will be divided into four thematic blocks:
- A. Basics of Sustainability
- B. Methods and Tools
- C. Sustainability Engineering
- D. Sustainability in Industrial Production
A first draft of the structure for the upcoming handbook titled “How to Integrate Sustainable Training in Existing Courses on Different Levels” was also outlined, setting the foundation for future development. The Bolzano workshop marked an important milestone in aligning the project’s educational goals and preparing for the implementation of the VLS and the modular course.
Stay tuned for further updates as the project progresses.
