Case Study: Embedding Sustainable Development: Engineers without Borders
Sustainable Development and Engineering Management is a 15 credit course undertaken by approximately 300 undergraduate students across a range of programmes including Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, Robotics, Brewing and Distilling.
The course introduces principles of sustainable development, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and key engineering management concepts essential for professional engineers.
Taking direction from over 35 years of sustainability teaching within the Chemical Engineering curricula, the course addresses UK-SPEC and AHEP4 accreditation requirements, particularly within the Engineer & Society theme, which includes sustainability, ethical conduct, risk and inclusive design.
As part of the course, students undertake a group project by participating in the Engineering for People Design Challenge run by Engineers without Borders. The project challenges students to design practical, sustainable solutions to real-world problems faced by a different community each year. Students apply engineering management, economic evaluation, and sustainability principles to develop financially feasible approaches, while prioritising community needs.
This interdisciplinary project-based learning helps students understand the complexity of sustainable development by encouraging a holistic, whole life-cycle approach that balances ethical, environmental, social and economic considerations, essential for their future practice.
Top tips for others interested in adopting or adapting this approach
- Enhance real-world relevance and student employability through externally sourced design challenges.
- Support student-led learning, ownership. and student creativity through use of Engineers without Borders projects.
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) addressed
Depending on the project-based learning topic, a range of UN SDGs are explored.
Acknowledgement: This case study was informed by the collaborative practice of the wider Sustainable Development and Engineering Management global teaching team, past and present.
