Sustainable Engineering Ethics: Teaching Sustainability as a Macroethical Issue

Abstract

This paper explores how sustainability issues have been integrated into the education of engineering and computing students, as one among many important macroethical issues. Based on surveys of educators focused primarily in the U.S., other Anglo countries, and Western Europe, 673 individuals reported teaching sustainability in their courses. These responses were examined for trends in teaching and assessment methods for ethics and societal impacts (ESI), and compared to those who teach ESI but not including sustainability. Follow-up interviews provided six more detailed examples of teaching practices specific to sustainability in courses where sustainability was a primary focus for integration. The results illustrate sustainability practices that include a macroethics lens, and could inspire educators to increase the integration of sustainability into their teaching.