Fostering Global Learning in Engineering Education

The 'Global Dimension in Engineering Education' network is an initiative aimed at increasing the awareness, critical understanding and attitudinal values of undergraduates and postgraduates students in technical universities across Europe related to Sustainable Human Development and its relationship with technology. This is being dealt with by integrating Sustainable Human Development as a cross-cutting issue in teaching activities by improving the competences of academics and through engaging both staff and students in initiatives related to sustainability. It started as a collaborative project between a consortium of European Universities and Non-Governmental Organizations funded by EuropeAid. The study analyses and discusses the project experience as a best practice for effectively integrating Sustainable Human Development into teaching activities of engineering faculty. First, it presents a continuing professional development approach addressed to academics of technical universities that integrate a series of online training courses supported by innovative learning materials and contextual case studies developed jointly by academics and NGOs practitioners. Second, it analyses and discusses the overall impact of training activities implemented in the three partners' countries. Limits and challenges for sustainability and replicability of the proposal are discussed.