Implementing the Engineering for One Planet Framework in a Civil Engineering Technology Program

Abstract

To address the challenges facing the built environment and promote sustainability, it is essential for the future engineering workforce to be well-equipped to design, construct, operate, and manage infrastructure projects and systems. Civil engineers play a vital role in this process by contributing their expertise to develop sustainable building solutions that enhance the built environment. The primary goal of the Engineering for One Planet (EOP) Framework is to provide engineers with the necessary skills and knowledge to safeguard the planet and its ecosystems, ensuring their sustainability for the benefit of all living beings. This project focused on introducing students in the Civil Engineering Technology five-year Bachelor of Science Program at Rochester Institute of Technology to sustainability concepts using the EOP framework. Curricular changes were implemented for two courses in the Civil Engineering Technology Program, a first-year introduction to civil engineering course reaching 72 students and a fourth-year structural steel design course reaching 30 students. The course materials introduced students to sustainability concepts for building and infrastructure projects. The students engaged in educational activities that offered them opportunities to enhance their comprehension of the course content and internalize sustainability principles at a deeper level. At the end of the semester, more than 80% of the students reported an improvement in their understanding of sustainability-related concepts and over 90% of the students said they had a better understanding of how civil engineers can contribute to a sustainable world according to the survey results. Using the two courses as pilot studies, this project aims to integrate sustainability concepts into other technical courses to equip students with a strong foundation and the necessary skills to become agents of change in promoting sustainability within the civil engineering and construction industry.