In an era where environmental consciousness and sustainable practices are becoming paramount, educational institutions are taking proactive steps to incorporate these principles into their curricula. The Faculty of Engineering is no exception, with the establishment of a dedicated Sustainability Committee as a response to the growing recognition of the role engineers play in addressing global challenges related to sustainability. The primary objective of the Sustainability Committee is to assess, enhance, and monitor the integration of sustainable practices within the Faculty’s engineering programs and operations.
The Sustainability Committee recently conducted a comprehensive academic exercise to gauge the extent to which the current engineering curriculum and research directly or indirectly addresses the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The results indicated a positive correlation between several SDGs and the engineering courses and projects.
Half of the study-units in the Bachelor of Engineering programmes of studies are directly or indirectly related to the SDGs. On the other hand, one third of the undergraduate final year projects directly address at least one SDG mainly focussing on “Good Health and Well-being” (SDG 3), “Responsible Consumption and Production” (SDG 12), “Clean Water and Sanitation” (SDG 6), “Affordable and Clean Energy” (SDG 7) and “Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure” (SDG 9). When considering postgraduate courses, the percentage of course content or dissertation projects that are directly related to the aforementioned SDGs rises to over 40% and 50% for master’s and PhD courses respectively.
The committee also actively consolidates collaboration between the Faculty of Engineering and various University of Malta entities and academics interested in sustainable engineering. This extends to fostering partnerships with external entities and creating a network that amplifies the impact of sustainable initiatives. Additionally, the committee will be instrumental in reporting on National and European policies, influencing the application of engineering to sustainable development issues on a broader scale.
By advocating for the integration of sustainable principles, the committee ensures that sustainability becomes an integral part of the Faculty's strategic vision and decision-making processes. The committee which reports to the Faculty of Engineering Board, is chaired by Prof. Ing. Paul Refalo and comprises academic and non-academic staff representing all the Faculty’s departments. As the global demand for sustainable solutions continues to rise, the Faculty of Engineering remains committed to nurturing a community of engineers dedicated to building a more sustainable and equitable future.