Integration of sustainable development goals in the field of process engineering through active learning methodologies

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to integrate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the outlines of a Master's Degree in Industrial Engineering using active learning methodologies. The main objective of this integration is to favor sustainable human education and to increase students’ awareness and responsibility towards future generations from the chemical engineering point of view. Within the process engineering course, the students must design a chemical process using technical, economic, social and environmental criteria. Active learning methodologies were gradually introduced in different academic courses (Project-Based Learning, Collaborative Work and Flipped Classroom) and finally SDGs were implemented in the 2020–21 academic course. A synergetic effect with the active learning methodologies was observed, increasing the motivation of the students and the academics, and the complexity of the projects performed by students. The introduction of the SDGs improved academic results, which was reflected in the absence of failures and a decrease in the percentage of students passing with the lowest grade from 16 % to 10 %. Moreover, students report that this project significantly enhanced their knowledge of the SDGs related to energy and climate change; students having low or very low knowledge about SDGs were reduced to 7 % as compared to the initial 45 %.