Embedding sustainability in the engineering curriculum: a complimentary approach to performance engineering and sustainable design

To address the UN Sustainable Development Goals, future engineers must effectively integrate sustainability into multiple areas of engineering throughout the lifecycle encompassing the design of products, development for manufacturing and end of life considerations. The impact of the quality of manufactured goods on product performance and sustainability is well documented. Furthermore, statistical methods commonly used to monitor and control product quality may be adapted to evaluate environmental performance. This paper details how sustainability is considered within the curriculum of two 3rd year modules of the Engineering courses at Nottingham Trent University, UK. The modules presented here are Performance Engineering and Sustainability in Engineering Design. Through a systematic analysis of the content, the authors have identified synergies in approaches to sustainability in the modules. It is anticipated that, through careful scaffolding and reinforcement of learning, budding engineers will be encouraged to adopt a holistic approach, in which sustainability is embedded throughout their practice.