Students’ attitude toward sustainability and humanitarian engineering education using project-based and international field learning pedagogies

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Truc Thanh Ngo ◽  
Bradley Chase
Keyword(s):  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Engineering Education ◽  
Curriculum Design ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
Development Education ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Perceptions And Attitudes ◽  
Humanitarian Engineering

Purpose Environmental sustainability and social contexts are becoming increasingly important concepts. The infusion of sustainability and humanitarian engineering (HE) into the academic core curriculum is often challenging. This study aims to provide an understanding of students’ perceptions and attitudes toward the incorporation of active learning of sustainability and humanitarian concepts into engineering education. Design/methodology/approach A project-based sustainability course was developed and offered to engineering undergraduates. A HE international field experience was also provided to students as an extracurricular activity. Pre- and post-surveys were conducted to assess students’ perceptions and attitudes toward sustainability and HE project learning experience. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to determine the statistical significance of the results and demographic influences on students’ experiences. Findings Both project-based and international field learning experiences positively influenced the students’ perceptions of sustainable practices, social change and appreciation of the engineering profession. Multidisciplinary learning also helped students become more motivated, engage in sustainability-promoted activities and community work and improve their social interactions. Students gained practical engineering skills that they did not typically receive in traditional classroom settings and recognized the global and social responsibilities that are core to sustainable development education. Originality/value The study demonstrates a mixed undergraduate educational model in which students acquired sustainability concepts through a project-based engineering course and practiced social responsibility through international HE projects. The findings help engineering educators understand students’ perceptions toward sustainability and HE, providing insight into effective curriculum design and strategic inclusion of social responsibility in traditional engineering education.

scholarly journals Modeling Humanizing Education Through Newly Reviewed Materials Engineering Curriculum

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 63-79
Author(s):  
Norshahida Sarifuddin ◽  
Zuraida Ahmad ◽  
Ahmad Zahirani Ahmad Azhar ◽  
Hafizah Hanim Mohd Zaki ◽  
Amelia Wong Azman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Education ◽  
Curriculum Design ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Engineering Programs ◽  
Academic Field ◽  
Materials Engineering ◽  
New Curriculum ◽  
Humanitarian Engineering ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The University

In line with the current global focus on sustainability and the well-being of the planet, becoming a professional engineer nowadays requires more than simple mastery of technical skills. Considering that engineers are required to have a deep sense of responsibility not only for humankind but also for the environment, engineering education and practices must be reformed substantially to prepare engineers that will contribute to sustainable development. This necessitates updating conventional engineering programs (CEE) to incorporate Humanizing Engineering Education (HEE). Although HEE is an old practice of individual engineers and other organizations outside the academic field, it is relatively new in academic engineering. While the definition of what truly merits being considered HEE remains debatable, many engineers believe that their work involves a humanitarian aspect. To streamline the development of HEE, there is a need for developing guidelines and frameworks for a comprehensive model. Ideally, that framework should integrate humanizing pedagogy in the new curriculum design. The objective of the paper is to share the experience of the authors in designing a new curriculum for a Materials Engineering Programme (MEP) that is embedded with Humanitarian Engineering (HE), which is among the main elements of HEE. Data collection was through interviews, qualitative surveys, reports from the stakeholders, accreditation bodies and benchmarking with other Higher Learning Institutions (HLI). An extensive scholarly literature review was executed to identify shortcomings in CEE and how it could be reformed by integrating it with HEE. The Sejahtera Academic Framework (SAF); a strategic framework for academic programmes developed by the university, was used as a reference to customize MEP to better meet students’ needs. Since the proposed model applies a new emerging concept, it inevitably raises challenges related to different levels of understanding among course implementers and perceptions of external stakeholders. Moreover, the developers had to consider the limitations imposed by the university's policies and structures while acknowledging the availability of finite resources (i.e. time, money, equipment, and expertise).

Social responsibility and the SDGs: vignettes of Caribbean tour operators

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 275-292
Author(s):  
Pauline Milwood
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Iso 26000 ◽  
2030 Agenda ◽  
Caribbean Tourism

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to better understand how Caribbean tourism micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) perceive their corporate sustainability and social responsibility (CSSR) practices during design and implementation of new innovations. This knowledge helps our understanding of how the uniquely tourist-dependent region of the Caribbean can, through the social innovation practices of MSMEs, maximize its contribution to attainment of the 2030 sustainable development goals. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a responsibility–sustainability framework premised on seven core subjects of the International Guidance (ISO 26000) for Social Responsibility and goals from the 2030 Agenda to analyze interview data from tour operators in five Caribbean Community (CARICOM) territories: Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica and St. Lucia. Findings The results reveal that when designing new products and services, Caribbean tour operators contribute to sustainable development through social and economic change, responsible business model design, fair labor and operating practices, environmental sustainability and health and safety education. These behaviors do vary and are not consistent across the tour operators. Research limitations/implications Social and business planners and policymakers should create deliberate and purposeful mechanisms designed for Caribbean tourism MSMEs to have a fulsome understanding of how they might maximize contributions to the 2030 Agenda. Originality/value This work represents the first instance of use of the ISO 26000 Guidance in a Caribbean tourism context and provides insight into tour operators’ views toward corporate sustainability and CSSR.

Corporate social responsibility and sustainable management of solid wastes and effluents in Lagos megacity Nigeria

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 742-761
Author(s):  
Lukman Raimi ◽  
AbdulGaniyu Omobolaji Adelopo ◽  
Hassan Yusuf
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Sustainable Management ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Solid Wastes ◽  
Behavioural Intention ◽  
Positive Relationships ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose This study aims to empirically investigate the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainable management of wastes and effluents (SMWE) in Lagos Megacity. Design/methodology/approach The paper adopts a quantitative research method, specifically the use of a Web-survey technique for eliciting responses from a cross-section of companies affiliated to the Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI). From a target population of 2,300 companies, a sample of 92 companies was drawn using the sample determination formula of Parten (1950). The 92 sampled companies were randomly administered Web-based questionnaires through their official emails. Finally, the 56 responses received from the participating companies (corresponding to 61 per cent response rate) were analysed electronically and the results presented using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings The results show strong positive relationships between CSR and advocacy on waste and effluents (0.7), environmental impact response (0.7), environmental sustainability policy (0.6) and preventive negative impact (0.6) with P < 0.05. However, weak positive relationships exist between CSR and monitoring mechanisms (0.3) and adequacy of infrastructure for wastes and pollutants management (0.4). Overall, there is a significant positive relationship between CSR and sustainable management of solid wastes and effluents in the sampled companies in Lagos. Research limitations/implications The research is limited to Lagos Megacity because it is the industrial and commercial hub of Nigeria. Besides, there are several industrial associations in Lagos, but the selected association was the LCCI with 56 sampled companies. Practical implications The research supports and validates the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), which explicates that performance behaviour of organisations is influenced by the behavioural intention and behavioural control. However, behavioural intention of organisations may be carried out, abandoned or revised based on ever changing circumstances or contexts. Originality/value The study bridges the gap between theory and practice of environmental CSR by enriching the understanding of academics and practitioners on CSR and environmental sustainability relationships in Lagos Megacity.

Beyond corporate social responsibility. Towards a model for managing sustainable mining operations. Qualitative research based upon best practices

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 605-621 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose Ventura ◽  
Cesar Sandro Saenz
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Mining Operations ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mining Companies ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose – The aim of the study is to propose a model for conducting socially responsible operations in the mining industry, thriving to reach and sustain world-class standards in regard to profitability and environmental sustainability. The model uses a framework built upon a set of best practices in social responsibility by some of the largest mining companies in Peru. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology adopted emphasizes the scrutiny of best practices among 92 initiatives undertaken by 10 companies – 5 large and 5 mid-sized companies as measured by the ratio “amount of investment” – which contributed most to prevent social conflict escalation. Data set received input from in-depth interviews to managers in charge of social affairs as well as from interviews to social constituents – beneficiaries and local authorities. Content analysis supported data processing and analysis of results. Findings – Main findings comprise the following: distinct schemes for managing social responsibility in dependence upon impact evaluation indicators were found, which help to organize three models for conducting mining operations: traditional mining, up-to-date mining, and sustainability-oriented mining; evidence of distinct pathways undergone by large- and mid-sized companies in their quest to up-scale their corporate social responsibility profile. Originality/value – Overall results from this study suggest the feasibility to modeling the social responsibility of mining companies in accordance to three dimensions – social, economic, and environmental – that draw from the analysis of best practices undertaken by large- and mid-sized companies.

Sustainability efforts in the fast fashion industry: consumer perception, trust and purchase intention

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah L. Neumann ◽  
Luisa M. Martinez ◽  
Luis F. Martinez
Keyword(s):  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Purchase Intention ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Consumer Attitude ◽  
Fashion Industry ◽  
Fast Fashion ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Perceived Consumer Effectiveness

Purpose This study aims to test for factors affecting environmental sustainability and purchase intention in the fashion industry. Accordingly, the authors developed a framework that depicts the relationships between perceptions of social responsibility, consumer attitude, trust, purchase intention and perceived consumer effectiveness. Design/methodology/approach An online survey was conducted with an internationally diverse sample of 216 consumers. Data were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling. Findings The results indicated that perceptions of social responsibility directly affect consumers’ attitudes towards these fashion brands, as well as trust and perceived consumer effectiveness. Also, consumers need to perceive sustainability efforts of these brands as altruistic, and trust was found to be a direct predictor of purchase intention. However, both consumer attitude and perceived consumer effectiveness did not predict purchase intention. Research limitations/implications The survey was primarily distributed to young people. Therefore, a generalisation of the findings to other age groups might be limited. Practical implications Practicing managers should emphasise the fact that environmental sustainability and fast fashion brands could be sustainable to increase trust among consumers. Social implications When it comes to environmental issues, positive perceptions regarding the companies’ social responsibility efforts are vital to enhance both consumers’ trust towards the brands and their individual feeling of empowerment. Originality/value This study intends to shed light on the key elements that shape consumers’ attitudes and willingness to purchase green apparel.

Exploring children’s socialization to three dimensions of sustainability

2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Elizabeth Francis ◽  
Teresa Davis
Keyword(s):  
Curriculum Design ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Cultural Groups ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Sustainability Curriculum ◽  
Socializing Agents

Purpose – This study aims to examine aspects of children’s sustainability socialization. Many studies examine children’s attitudes to sustainability. However, few studies build an understanding of how, where and when children are socialized to sustainability. Design/methodology/approach – Interviews with 30 children explore the socializing agents (who), learning situations (where), learning processes (how) and learning effects (what). The study also delineates and compares the environmental, self and social dimensions of sustainability. Findings – Socialization to environmental sustainability is highly structured and formal, and children rarely go beyond the knowledge and actions they are taught. Socialization to the self dimension combines formal and informal mechanisms with a greater propensity for elaboration and generalization. Meanwhile, socialization to societal sustainability involves unstructured and individualized processes and outcomes. Research limitations/implications – This is an exploratory study. Future research could develop scales to measure children’s sustainability dispositions and actions. Researchers could then use such scales to examine the sustainability socialization of children from other demographic and cultural groups. Practical implications – The findings indicate that children are often positively disposed towards sustainability but lack the knowledge and direction needed to exercise this desire. Thus, marketers should more clearly articulate how their product solves a sustainability problem. Social implications – This paper could inform sustainability education policy. It has practical applications in the area of sustainability curriculum design in schools. Originality/value – Being the first study that explores children’s socialization to three dimensions of sustainability, this paper provides a unique contribution to consumer behaviour theory and would be of interest to academics, practitioners and social marketers.

Does green finance matter for sustainable entrepreneurship and environmental corporate social responsibility during COVID-19?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Sadiq ◽  
Sakkarin Nonthapot ◽  
Shafi Mohamad ◽  
Syed Ehsanullah ◽  
Nadeem Iqbal
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Southeast Asia ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Sustainable Growth ◽  
Business Climate ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Green Finance ◽  
Level I ◽  
Corporate Social

PurposeThe discourse aimed to investigate green finance practices under the assumptions of several notable climate advisors and speculators in Asia and particularly in Southeast Asia. The study intrigues by considering financial specialists to vent government spending on green restoration plans leading toward green bankable venture openings for the public and private sector. This section distinguishes a few of the green fund components and approaches that can be joined by national and neighborhood governments, essentially in Southeast Asia, into their post-COVID-19 techniques, but are too valuable inputs for domestic commercial banks and private corporates.Design/methodology/approachIt can be defined as a functional type for Cobb Douglas development. ARDL technology is a way of calculating complex forces at the classification level at long-term and short-term stages. This ARDL approach has many advantages and can be implemented when incorporated in level I (0) and level I first (1) with the original variable. Still, it offers robust ability to the outcomes and standardizes the lag, considering the number and sample size used. Pooled mean group (PMG) method is becoming a convenient technique for monitoring data over the period and a good approach for energy impact panels – growth ties for creating links between energy emissions and environmental sustainability and businesses in the nation.FindingsThere is a positive partnership between creativity and a sustainable world. Corporations are recommended to uphold the principles of CSR in the development process by introducing environmentally friendly advanced technologies. The main objectives of corporate social responsibility (CSR) are economic growth, environmental sustainability and social justice. Several programs have been established to expand businesses' responsibilities to improve their confessions in sustainable growth. SMEs are a primary source of production of innovative products and technologies. The key concerns of stakeholders and politicians in the new competitive business climate are the protection of environmental sustainability and social responsibility, recognizing factors driving economic development for SMEs.Originality/valueDuring the COVID-19 era, the prime responsibility of pandemic confronting governments is to spend on help activities (that have been started in earlier phase) and recovery endeavors (yet to start in the situation). Therefore, the governments may devise policies to pool resources from commercial, private, public-private partnerships and other capital market sources. With rising hazard recognitions particularly emerging from at-threat income projections, governments ought to make the correct mechanisms and instruments that can perform this catalytic part of derisking and drawing in such capital. This too can be an opportunity for governments to enhance and execute such financial instruments that offer assistance, quicken their commitments to climate alter beneath the Paris Agreement and the sustainable development goals (SDGs), and thus “build back better” is being progressively voiced over the world.

Categorizing corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in B2B markets: the why, when and how

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (8) ◽  
pp. 1172-1181 ◽  
Author(s):  
David L. Blenkhorn ◽  
H.F. (Herb) MacKenzie
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Corporate Image ◽  
Conceptual Frameworks ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustainability Initiatives ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Do So

Purpose This paper aims to address the questions of why, when and how business-to-business (B2B) firms engage in sustainability initiatives. The authors believe that this is the first attempt to address all three questions in a single paper, and one of the earliest to focus on these in B2B markets. Design/methodology/approach The sustainability initiatives of B2B firms throughout the value/supply chain were examined. Input data came from external sources and the firms themselves. Two conceptual frameworks were developed, illustrating why firms partake in sustainability initiatives and when and how they may do so. Findings This paper provides two conceptual frameworks that address why, when and how firms get involved in sustainability initiatives, and how they can better communicate their involvement to stakeholders. Research limitations/implications To obtain a broader perspective of B2B firms’ involvement in sustainability initiatives, a variety of third-party sources were used, augmented with data from firm websites. Examples of firms the authors selected were constrained by the collection of firms described in student research papers. Practical implications This paper suggests useful guidelines for firms considering starting or expanding sustainability initiatives by providing frameworks that address why, when and how firms do so, with examples of firms illustrating engagement in each area. It also provides communication guidelines, necessary for enhancing stakeholder relations. Social implications Integrating environmental sustainability within a firm’s strategy can improve corporate image and increase efficiency, while contributing to a better world environment. Originality/value A review of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) literature indicated that most research has focused on business-to-consumer markets. This paper addresses CSR in B2B markets, examining players at all levels of the value/supply chain: manufacturers, channel intermediaries and end-users.

Corporate citizenship and social responsibility policies in the United States of America

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Anthony Camilleri
Keyword(s):  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Corporate Citizenship ◽  
Past Research ◽  
The United States ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Regulatory Policies

Purpose The aim of this case study is to outline relevant regulatory guidelines on environmental, social and governance issues in the USA. This contribution includes a thorough analysis of several institutional frameworks and guiding principles that have been purposely developed to foster corporate citizenship behaviours. Design/methodology/approach A case study methodology involved a broad analysis of US regulatory policies, voluntary instruments and soft laws that have stimulated organisations to implement and report their responsible behaviours. Findings This contribution ties the corporate citizenship behaviours with the institutional and stakeholder theories. The case study evaluated the US’s federal government, bureaus and its agencies’ policies on human rights, health and social welfare, responsible supply chain and procurement of resources, anticorruption, bribery and fraudulent behaviours, energy and water conservation practices as well as environmental protection, among other issues. Research limitations/implications Past research may have not sufficiently linked corporate citizenship with the corporate social responsibility (CSR) paradigm. This research reports how different US regulatory institutions and non-governmental organisations are pushing forward the social responsibility, environmental sustainability as well as the responsible corporate governance agenda. Originality/value This research critically analyses US policy and regulatory instruments including relevant legislation and executive orders that are primarily intended to unlock corporate citizenship practices from business and industry. It has also provided a conceptual framework for the corporate citizenship notion. In conclusion, it implies that there are business and political cases for corporate citizenship.

What is engineering education for? Listening to the voices of some Spanish building engineers

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 897-919 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joaquín Fuentes-Del-Burgo ◽  
Elena Navarro-Astor
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Education ◽  
Curriculum Design ◽  
Practical Implication ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Construction Site ◽  
Subsequent Work ◽  
Content Type ◽  
La Mancha ◽  
Building Engineering ◽  
Site Managers

Purpose Aristotle’s concepts of “episteme”, “techne” and “phronesis” are used to understand the relevance of the education that Spanish building engineers receive to their subsequent work as construction site managers. This paper aims to clarify the role of educational factors as they influence any disparities that building engineers who are working as site managers may feel. More specifically, the objectives are to explore the satisfactions and dissatisfactions they experience in doing their job; to describe the ways they find to cope with educational deficiencies; and to gather their suggestions for improving building engineering education. Design/methodology/approach Using an interpretive approach within the qualitative paradigm, this study draws on data obtained from semi-structured interviews with a sample of 34 building engineers working as site managers in Castilla-La Mancha (Spain). Findings According to the site managers themselves, Spanish universities mainly teach Aristotle’s episteme (abstract knowledge and general principles) and some techne (applied, technical knowledge and skills), which fall short of the expectations placed upon them by their employers. Research limitations/implications Because of the chosen research approach, the sample size is relatively small and results may lack generalisability. Practical implications The results have practical implication for building engineering curriculum design related to the enhancement of building engineers employability and job satisfaction. Originality/value The existing literature offers insight into job-educational mismatches of different occupations in different countries, drawing on survey questionnaires. There is, however, a gap in respect of Spain and the job of the construction site manager. This paper goes some way towards filling that gap, reporting on the experiences of some higher education “customers”: Spanish building engineers working as site managers.

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