Shaping a new future? Engineering students’ perception about interdisciplinary sustainability courses

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The main purpose of this paper is to investigate the relevance and efficiency of interdisciplinary sustainability courses. These sustainability courses are designed for engineering students at Master level requiring the use of technical and sustainability skills and competences in the framework of project based learning.We applied a mixed quantitative and qualitative methodology. First, we carried out a short quantitative survey (n=79) to investigate students’ perception about the significance of sustainability courses, the developed skills and competences or the relevance of applied teaching and learning approach. After, we conducted a qualitative study with a group discussion about diverse questions for a deeper comprehension of students’ view.Our findings show a positive consideration of interdisciplinary approach viewed as particularly useful and relevant for addressing sustainable issues. Furthermore, sustainability courses develop numerous transversal skills and competences required for future sustainability achievements. In addition, by enhancing students’ sustainability knowledge and awareness they were considered as impactful for students’ future actions in their personal and professional life.