Sustainability Toolkit: Guidance tools

Guidance tools are designed to help you learn how to do something related to embedding sustainability in engineering education. In this section of the toolkit, you’ll find guidance for:

 

  • Adapting existing sustainability resources to specific disciplinary contexts;
  • Implementing new or different pedagogies that support sustainability learning;
  • Structuring lessons, modules, and programmes so that sustainability skills and outcomes are central themes;
  • And more!

 

 Guidance tool Topic Keywords Disciplines Sustainability competencies UN SDGs Reimagined Degree Map Intervention*
How to integrate and assess sustainability in the design (capstone) project in Chemical Engineering ESD in Chemical Engineering projects Problem-based learning
Education for sustainable development
Circularity
Circular economy
Assessment
AHEP
Sustainability
Higher education
Design
Data
Pedagogy
Chemical Systems-thinking

Collaboration

Integrated problem-solving

SDG 2 (Zero hunger)

SDG 3 (Good health and well-being)

SDG 4 (Quality education)

SDG 12 (Responsible consumption and production)

SDG 13 (Climate action)

Active pedagogies and mindset development

Authentic assessment

More real-world complexity

How to have a constructive or uncomfortable conversation about sustainability when you aren’t a subject-matter expert How to talk about sustainability in engineering education. Advocacy
Collaboration
Global responsibility
Sustainability
Systems change
Climate change
AHEP
Higher education
Pedagogy
Any Self-awareness

Strategic

Critical thinking

SDG 4 (Quality education)

SDG 11 (Sustainable cities and communities)

SDG 13 (Climate action)

Active pedagogies and mindset development.
Using problem- and project-based learning to integrate sustainability in engineering education Opportunities and challenges for integrating ESD into engineering programmes via PBL Education for sustainable development
Project-based learning
Problem-based learning
Engineering design
Sustainability
AHEP
UK-SPEC
Pedagogy
Higher education
Curriculum.
Any. Critical thinking

Integrated problem-solving

Collaboration

SDG 4 (Quality education)

SDG 13 (Climate action).

More real-world complexity

Active pedagogies and mindset development

Integrating sustainable development goals into computing projects Embedding SDGs into undergraduate computing projects using problem-based learning and teamwork. Sustainable Development Goals
Problem-based learning
Teamwork
Design thinking
Sustainability
AHEP
Pedagogy
Higher education
Communication
Course design
Assessment
STEM
Curriculum design
Computing

Computer science

Information technology

Software engineering

Collaboration

Integrated problem-solving

All 17 SDGs Adapt and repurpose learning outcomes

Active pedagogies and mindset development

Authentic assessment.

Sustainability-focused learning outcomes mapped to AHEP4 Accreditation mapping for sustainability in engineering education Accreditation and standards
Learning outcomes
AHEP
Student support
Sustainability
Higher education
Students
Teaching or embedding sustainability
Any Critical thinking

Systems thinking

Integrated problem-solving

Collaboration

SDG 12 (Responsible consumption and production) Adapt and repurpose learning outcomes

More real-world complexity

Cross-disciplinarity

Using a factory fitness model to improve sustainability Sustainability in manufacturing Energy efficiency
Factories
Best practice
Eco-efficiency
Practice maturity model
AHEP
Student support
Sustainability
Aeronautical

Manufacturing

Mechanical

Critical thinking

Integrated problem-solving

SDG 9 (Industry, innovation, and infrastructure)

SDG 12 (Responsible consumption and production)

More real-world complexity
Workflow for embedding the SDGs across engineering programmes and modules How to integrate the SDGs using a practical framework Accreditation and standards
Assessment
Global responsibility
Learning outcomes
Sustainability
AHEP
SDGs
Curriculum design
Course design
Higher education
Pedagogy
Any Anticipatory

Integrated problem-solving

Strategic

SDG 4 (Quality education)

SDG 13 (Climate action)

Adapt and repurpose learning outcomes

Authentic assessment

Active pedagogies and mindset development.

Using projects for integrating sustainability into engineering education Sustainability must-haves in engineering project briefs. PBL
Assessment
Project brief
Learning outcomes
Pedagogy
Communication
Future generations
Decision-making
Design
Ethics
Sustainability
AHEP
Higher education
Any Integrated problem-solving

Collaboration.

All Adapt learning outcomes

Active pedagogies and mindsets

More real-world complexity

Cross-disciplinarity

Authentic assessment

Equipping students with ethical decision-making skills by teaching sustainability from case studies
Revealing links between ethics and sustainability by teaching with case studies. Sustainability education
Engineering ethics
Environmental impact
Responsible design
Stakeholder engagement
AHEP
Sustainability
Higher education
Pedagogy
Renewable energy
Green energy
Climate change
Local community
Any Self-awareness

Normative

SDG 4 (Quality education)

SDG 13 (Climate action)

More real-world complexity

Active pedagogies and mindset development

Cross-disciplinarity

Integrating sustainability into robotics higher education courses Considering the SDGs at all stages of new robot creation AHEP
Sustainability
Design
Life cycle
Local community
Environment
Circular economy
Recycling or recycled materials
Student support
Higher education
Learning outcomes.
Computing

Robotics

Electrical

Computer science

Information technology

Software engineering

Artificial Intelligence

Mechatronics

Manufacturing engineering

Materials engineering

Mechanical engineering

Data

Systems thinking

Anticipatory

Critical thinking

SDG 9 (Industry, innovation, and infrastructure)

SDG 12 (Responsible consumption and production).

Adapt and repurpose learning outcomes

More real-world complexity

How can sustainability be integrated in engineering modules through mathematics content? Implementing sustainability into technical engineering curricula Teaching or embedding sustainability
Mathematical problems
Curriculum
Higher education
Ethical issue
AHEP
Sustainability
Gender
Environment
Interdisciplinary
STEM
Any Integrated problem-solving. SDG 5 (Gender Equality)

SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)

SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)

SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure)

SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)

SDG 14 (Life Below Water)

SDG 15 (Life on Land)

Cross-disciplinarity
Inclusive and sustainable engineering solutions for economic growth in a diverse society Links between sustainability and EDI Sustainability
AHEP
Programmes
Higher education
EDI
Economic Growth
Inclusive learning
Interdisciplinary
Global responsibility
Community engagement
Ethics
Future generations
Pedagogy
Healthcare
Health
Any Self-awareness

Normative

Collaboration

Critical thinking

All 17. Active pedagogies and mindset development

More real-world complexity.

*The Reimagined Degree Map is a guide to help engineering departments navigate the decisions that are urgently required to ensure degrees
prepare students for 21st century challenges.

Check out our other tools that can enhance your knowledge, support your teaching practice, and help you collaborate with others. The EPC’s Sustainability Toolkit is supported by the Royal Academy of Engineering and Siemens.

If you want to suggest a resource or contribute a tool that has worked for you, find out how on our Get Involved page.


 

Additional information

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