Document Type

Conference Paper

Publication Date

2025

DOI

10.18260/1-2--57580

Publication Title

2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Pages

14 pp.

Conference Name

2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, June 22-25, 2025, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Abstract

As global environmental challenges intensify, integrating sustainability into engineering technology education is increasingly critical. Yet, many programs lack comprehensive methods to embed sustainability principles, leaving graduates underprepared to address real-world environmental issues. Courses on sustainability often approach it in isolated or superficial contexts, unable to capture its complexity. The purpose of this study is to showcase one approach for embedding the Engineering for One Planet (EOP) framework into the Sustainable Building Practices course within the Civil Engineering Technology Department. The newly developed curriculum integrated learning outcomes from three EOP topics: Environmental Impact Assessment, Materials Selection, and Systems Thinking. Students were trained to conduct environmental assessments, select sustainable materials based on life-cycle impacts, and design buildings that align with ecological and social systems to promote durability, net-zero emissions, all with the intention to minimize harm. The new curriculum’s effectiveness was assessed through a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative retrospective surveys and qualitative photo-voice assignments. Quantitative results from retrospective surveys show significant improvement in learning outcomes across these topics, with Likert scores increasing notably after the course. Qualitative analysis of photo-voice assignments, informed by the How Learning Works framework, revealed three themes: Recognizing Value, where students highlighted the role of sustainability in reducing environmental and cultural impacts; Supportive Environment, which emphasized the importance of sustainable materials for safety, efficiency, and workflow; and Student Efficacy, demonstrating students’ ability to apply the learning outcomes. These results indicate that embedding sustainability into engineering curricula through the EOP framework fosters a deep understanding of environmental systems, improves decision-making, and enhances students' readiness to address real-world challenges. This approach offers a replicable model for integrating sustainability into engineering education to prepare future engineers for complex environmental issues.

Rights

© 2025 American Society for Engineering Education, ASEE Annual Conference Proceedings (Montreal, Quebec, Canada, June 22-25, 2025)

Original Publication Citation

Ismael, D., Jovanovic, V. M., Kuzlu, M., Lowe, C., & Bosman, L. (2025, June). Advancing sustainability in civil engineering technology through the engineering for one planet framework [Conference paper]. 2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2--57580

ORCID

0009-0003-7410-3045 (Ismael), 0000-0002-8626-903X (Jovanovic), 0000-0002-8719-2353 (Kuzlu)

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