Global Sustainability Leaders Publish New Framework for Preparing Business Executives Through Engineering Education
Washington, D.C., December 5, 2013 /3BL Media/ - The World Environment Center (WEC) announces the publication of a peer-reviewed journal article, “Building a Sustainability Road Map for Engineering Education.” Appearing in the American Chemical Society’s ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, the article is authored by Neil C. Hawkins of The Dow Chemical Company, Robert W. Patterson of Royal Dutch Shell, John Mogge of CH2M HILL, and Terry F. Yosie of WEC.
Several major environmental, economic and social trends have converged to reshape thinking about sustainability within the private sector. They include: 1) the growing demand by employers for sustainability-related competencies; 2) an increasing awareness of sustainability among engineering students and their greater advocacy for classroom content and instructions that better prepares them for future employment; and 3) an emerging body of sustainability knowledge that is being developed by the private sector, government agencies, universities and non-governmental organizations.
This feature article addresses the need for a sustainability roadmap in engineering curriculum: identifies the major elements of such a framework, reviews collaboration strategies for engineering schools, the public sector, private companies, and non-governmental organizations; and presents specific recommendations for curricular development and for expanding the influence of engineering professionals in developing solutions to societal challenges.
“New strategies are emerging for more effective collaboration among business, engineering schools and government funding agencies to address the intensifying global trends of our times—an expanding middle class, intensified urbanization, accelerating climate change and the need to provide sufficient quantities of food and water,” stated Dr. Terry F. Yosie, WEC’s President & CEO.
WEC has now begun implement a broader strategy for working with business, engineering and social science/public policy schools to transform the preparation of business leaders to implement sustainability.
About World Environment Center
WEC is an independent, global non-profit, non-advocacy organization that advances sustainable development through the business practices and operations of its member companies and in partnership with governments, multi-lateral organizations, non-governmental organizations, universities and other stakeholders. WEC’s mission is to promote business and societal value by advancing solutions to sustainable development-related problems. It manages projects for companies across their global operations, builds executive-level learning and competency in applying sustainable development across a number of business sectors, and recognizes performance excellence through an annual awards program. WEC is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with regional offices in China, El Salvador and Germany.
