Integrating sustainability and social commitment (s&sc) competences in the curriculum at the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering

Abstract

The importance of integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in the curriculum of all the bachelor and master degrees at UPC has been legally and institutionally recognised. At the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering, issues such as professional ethics, environmental impacts of infrastructures, respect for cultural diversity and gender perspective are currently cross-cutting competences highlighted and stated in the study plans as a transversal competence on Sustainability and Social Commitment (S&SC). However, its effective implementation requires significant teaching efforts in order to adapt academic curricula, so far limited to individual noncoordinated initiatives. The launch of the “ODS-Camins Toolkit” project (Toolkit for the Promotion of SDG in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Fields) seeks to encourage the implementation of teaching innovation practices that contribute to the deployment and assessment of S&CS competences. The aim of the project is to exchange experiences, develop new practices, and draft a common pathway for the promotion and implementation of the SDGs in the field of civil and environmental engineering studies. The paper will explain the experience of this one-year project, highlighting barriers, challenges, and sharing the lessons learned with the final purpose of involving all the community in the years to come. It will also present the Toolkit for the Promotion of SDGs in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Fields.