Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Engineering Education: Definitions, Research Trends, Bibliometric Insights, and Strategic Approaches
Abstract
This study investigates the integration of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within engineering education by providing conceptual definitions, identifying research trends, and analyzing strategic approaches. Using a systematic literature review enriched with bibliometric analysis, the study explores six key aspects: the role of SDGs in engineering education, the intersection of sustainability and technical learning, the integration of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), core competencies required for sustainability, systems thinking as a foundational skill, and institutional challenges and opportunities. Bibliometric mapping reveals increasing global attention to SDGs in engineering, particularly in 2022 and 2024. The findings show a paradigm shift from purely technical training to holistic, interdisciplinary education that combines ethics, ecology, and social impact. Despite structural barriers and curricular gaps, strategic opportunities (such as faculty readiness, innovative pedagogies, and technological tools) support transformative learning. This review provides a comprehensive framework for aligning engineering education with the SDGs and contributes to the development of sustainability-literate future engineers.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Fomunyam, K. G. (2019). Education and the fourth industrial revolution: Challenges and possibilities for engineering education. International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology, 10(8), 271-284.
Alam, G. M., Forhad, A. R., and Ismail, I. A. (2020). Can education as an ‘International Commodity’be the backbone or cane of a nation in the era of fourth industrial revolution?-A Comparative study. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 159, 120184.
Focacci, C. N., and Perez, C. (2022). The importance of education and training policies in supporting technological revolutions: A comparative and historical analysis of UK, US, Germany, and Sweden (1830–1970). Technology in Society, 70, 102000.
Crawley, E., Malmqvist, J., Ostlund, S., Brodeur, D., and Edstrom, K. (2007). Rethinking engineering education. The CDIO Approach, 302(2), 60-62.
Qiao, W., and Fu, J. (2023). Challenges of engineering education in digital intelligence era. Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange, 16(2), 145-159.
Burleson, G., Lajoie, J., Mabey, C., Sours, P., Ventrella, J., Peiffer, E., and Aranda, I. (2023). Advancing sustainable development: Emerging factors and futures for the engineering field. Sustainability, 15(10), 7869.
Haase, S. (2013). An engineering dilemma: Sustainability in the eyes of future technology professionals. Science and Engineering Ethics, 19, 893-911.
Seager, T., Selinger, E., and Wiek, A. (2012). Sustainable engineering science for resolving wicked problems. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics, 25, 467-484.
Munir, F. (2022). More than technical experts: Engineering professionals’ perspectives on the role of soft skills in their practice. Industry and Higher Education, 36(3), 294-305.
Tseng, M. L., Tran, T. P. T., Ha, H. M., Bui, T. D., and Lim, M. K. (2021). Sustainable industrial and operation engineering trends and challenges Toward Industry 4.0: A data driven analysis. Journal of Industrial and Production Engineering, 38(8), 581-598.
Hassani, H., Huang, X., MacFeely, S., and Entezarian, M. R. (2021). Big data and the united nations sustainable development goals (UN SDGs) at a glance. Big Data and Cognitive Computing, 5(3), 1-29.
Saxena, A., Ramaswamy, M., Beale, J., Marciniuk, D., and Smith, P. (2021). Striving for the united nations (UN) sustainable development goals (SDGs): What will it take?. Discover Sustainability, 2, 1-14.
Abubakar, I. R., Maniruzzaman, K. M., Dano, U. L., AlShihri, F. S., AlShammari, M. S., Ahmed, S. M. S., and Alrawaf, T. I. (2022). Environmental sustainability impacts of solid waste management practices in the global South. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19), 12717.
Abdelhafeez, I. A., and Ramakrishna, S. (2021). Promising sustainable models toward water, air, and solid sustainable management in the view of SDGs. Materials Circular Economy, 3(1), 21.
Ogunkunle, O., and Ahmed, N. A. (2021). Overview of biodiesel combustion in mitigating the adverse impacts of engine emissions on the sustainable human–environment scenario. Sustainability, 13(10), 5465.
Arora, G. (2020). Causes and effects of global warming. European Journal of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, 7(6), 947-953.
Demirbas, A. (2011). Waste management, waste resource facilities and waste conversion processes. Energy Conversion and Management, 52(2), 1280-1287.
Wyer, K. E., Kelleghan, D. B., Blanes-Vidal, V., Schauberger, G., and Curran, T. P. (2022). Ammonia emissions from agriculture and their contribution to fine particulate matter: A review of implications for human health. Journal of Environmental Management, 323, 116285.
Dehkordi, M. M., Nodeh, Z. P., Dehkordi, K. S., Khorjestan, R. R., and Ghaffarzadeh, M. (2024). Soil, air, and water pollution from mining and industrial activities: Sources of pollution, environmental impacts, and prevention and control methods. Results in Engineering, 102729.
Martín, E. G., Giordano, R., Pagano, A., Van Der Keur, P., and Costa, M. M. (2020). Using a system thinking approach to assess the contribution of nature based solutions to sustainable development goals. Science of the Total Environment, 738, 139693
Bhaduri, A., Bogardi, J., Siddiqi, A., Voigt, H., Vörösmarty, C., Pahl-Wostl, C., and Osuna, V. R. (2016). Achieving sustainable development goals from a water perspective. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 4, 64.
Leal Filho, W., Tripathi, S. K., Andrade Guerra, J. B. S. O. D., Giné-Garriga, R., Orlovic Lovren, V., and Willats, J. (2019). Using the sustainable development goals towards a better understanding of sustainability challenges. International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology, 26(2), 179-190.
Fauzi, M. A., Abdul Rahman, A. R., and Lee, C. K. (2023). A systematic bibliometric review of the United Nation’s SDGS: Which are the most related to higher education institutions?. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 24(3), 637-659.
Mihelcic, J. R., Crittenden, J. C., Small, M. J., Shonnard, D. R., Hokanson, D. R., Zhang, Q., and Schnoor, J. L. (2003). Sustainability science and engineering: the emergence of a new metadiscipline. Environmental Science and Technology, 37(23), 5314-5324.
Kioupi, V., and Voulvoulis, N. (2019). Education for sustainable development: A systemic framework for connecting the SDGs to educational outcomes. Sustainability, 11(21), 6104.
Murga-Menoyo, M. Á. (2014). Learning for a sustainable economy: Teaching of green competencies in the university. Sustainability, 6(5), 2974-2992.
Shahidul, M. I. (2020). Engineering education for achieving sustainable development goals by 2030: Revealing the paths for challenging climate change and COVID-19. Sustainable Development, 5(2), 403-410.
Ramirez-Mendoza, R. A., Morales-Menendez, R., Melchor-Martinez, E. M., Iqbal, H. M., Parra-Arroyo, L., Vargas-Martínez, A., and Parra-Saldivar, R. (2020). Incorporating the sustainable development goals in engineering education. International Journal on Interactive Design and Manufacturing, 14, 739-74
Romero, S., Aláez, M., Amo, D., and Fonseca, D. (2020). Systematic review of how engineering schools around the world are deploying the 2030 agenda. Sustainability, 12(12), 5035.
Wilson, D. (2019). Exploring the intersection between engineering and sustainability education. Sustainability, 11(11), 3134.
Tejedor, G., Segalàs, J., and Rosas-Casals, M. (2018). Transdisciplinarity in higher education for sustainability: How discourses are approached in engineering education. Journal of Cleaner Production, 175, 29-37.
Gutierrez-Bucheli, L., Kidman, G., and Reid, A. (2022). Sustainability in engineering education: A review of learning outcomes. Journal of Cleaner Production, 330, 129734.
Desha, C., Rowe, D., and Hargreaves, D. (2019). A review of progress and opportunities to foster development of sustainability-related competencies in engineering education. Australasian Journal of Engineering Education, 24(2), 61-73.
Bielefeldt, A. R., Polmear, M., Knight, D., Swan, C., and Canney, N. (2018). Intersections between engineering ethics and diversity issues in engineering education. Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice, 144(2), 04017017.
Pearce, J. M. (2006). Service learning in engineering and science for sustainable development. International Journal for Service Learning in Engineering, Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship, 1(1), 1-4.
Burmeister, M., and Eilks, I. (2013). Using participatory action research to develop a course module on education for sustainable development in pre-service chemistry teacher education. CEPS Journal, 3(1), 59-78.
Stuckey, M., Hofstein, A., Mamlok-Naaman, R., and Eilks, I. (2013). The meaning of ‘relevance science education and its implications for the science curriculum. Studies in Science Education, 49(1), 1-34.
Pacheco, L., Ningsu, L., Pujol, T., Gonzalez, J. R., and Ferrer, I. (2019). Impactful engineering education through sustainable energy collaborations with public and private entities. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 20(2), 393-407.
Beagon, U., Kövesi, K., Tabas, B., Nørgaard, B., Lehtinen, R., Bowe, B., and Spliid, C. M. (2023). Preparing engineering students for the challenges of the SDGs: what competences are required?. European Journal of Engineering Education, 48(1), 1-23.
Rieckmann, M. (2012). Future-oriented higher education: Which key competencies should be fostered through university teaching and learning?. Futures, 44(2), 127-135.
Ortiz-Marcos, I., Breuker, V., Rodríguez-Rivero, R., Kjellgren, B., Dorel, F., Toffolon, M., and Eccli, V. (2020). A framework of global competence for engineers: The need for a sustainable world. Sustainability, 12(22), 9568.
Quelhas, O. L. G., Lima, G. B. A., Ludolf, N. V. E., Meiriño, M. J., Abreu, C., Anholon, R., and Rodrigues, L. S. G. (2019). Engineering education and the development of competencies for sustainability. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 20(4), 614-629.
Giangrande, N., White, R. M., East, M., Jackson, R., Clarke, T., Saloff Coste, M., and Penha-Lopes, G. (2019). A competency framework to assess and activate education for sustainable development: Addressing the UN sustainable development goals 4.7 challenge. Sustainability, 11(10), 2832.
Ferrer-Estévez, M., and Chalmeta, R. (2021). Integrating sustainable development goals in educational institutions. The International Journal of Management Education, 19(2), 100494.
Olalla, C. B., and Merino, A. (2019). Competences for sustainability in undergraduate business studies: A content analysis of value-based course syllabi in Spanish universities. The International Journal of Management Education, 17(2), 239-253.
Green, C., Molloy, O., and Duggan, J. (2021). An empirical study of the impact of systems thinking and simulation on sustainability education. Sustainability, 14(1), 394.
Guillén-Gosálbez, G., You, F., Galán-Martín, Á., Pozo, C., and Grossmann, I. E. (2019). Process systems engineering thinking and tools applied to sustainability problems: current landscape and future opportunities. Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering, 26, 170–179.
Godfrey, P., Crick, R. D., and Huang, S. (2014). Systems thinking, systems design, and learning power in engineering education. International Journal of Engineering Education, 30(1), 112 - 127.
Dugan, K. E., Mosyjowski, E. A., Daly, S. R., and Lattuca, L. R. (2022). Systems thinking assessments in engineering: A systematic literature review. Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 39(4), 840-866.
Reynolds, M., Blackmore, C., Ison, R., Shah, R., and Wedlock, E. (2018). The role of systems thinking in the practice of implementing sustainable development goals. Handbook of Sustainability Science and Research, 677-698.
Nyemba, W. R., Carter, K. F., Mbohwa, C., and Chinguwa, S. (2019). A systems thinking approach to collaborations for capacity building and sustainability in engineering education. Procedia Manufacturing, 33, 732-739.
Menon, M., and Paretti, M. C. (2024). Faculty Perspectives on integrating sustainable development into engineering education. IEEE Transactions on Technology and Society, 5(3), 316-324.
Gebeshuber, I. C., and Doyle-Kent, M. (2024). Innovations and challenges in engineering education for the future: Contributing to the un sustainable development goals (SDGs). IFAC-PapersOnLine, 58(3), 134-138.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17509/ijost.v11i1.86298
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2025 Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Indonesian Journal of Science and Technology is published by UPI.
View My Stats