Tackling the Engineering Challenge: Embedding Sustainability Principles in Engineering Education

Abstract

This paper reports on the development of Bachelor of Engineering Technology (BEngTech) at the University of New England (UNE). The degree has been dealing with the engineering challenge of sustaining regional areas through both filling the skills shortage and embedding sustainability principles in the curricula. This challenge has been successfully achieved in two ways. Firstly, the BEngTech was developed to fill part of the skills shortage of engineers in regional areas. Since the commencement of the degree in 2008, over 80 students are currently enrolled across the two majors of Civil and Environmental engineering. One of the distinguishing features of the degree is the number of students sponsored by industry partners. The current cohort comprises six Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) cadets studying full time, at least 10 trainees are working with regional councils, and 15 are studying as part of their work requirements in various regional professional organisations. It is a goal and a hope that these students will stay in the region at the completion of their degree. Secondly, UNE has had a very strong focus for the past 40 years of embedding sustainability principles in teaching, and was one of the pioneers in Australia teaching Natural Resources, Resource Engineering, Environmental Engineering and presently Civil and Environmental Engineering. From this basis, sustainability is strongly embedded in both majors of the BEngTech.