Associating Sustainability Literacy with educational level of Industrial Engineering Students

Sandra Jennina Sanchez; Jose Daniel Ballen; MILTON JANUARIO RUEDA VARON; Douglas Lee Robertson

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Conference: 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Portland, Oregon
Publication Date: June 23, 2024
Start Date: June 23, 2024
End Date: July 12, 2024
Conference Session: International Division (INTL) Technical Session: International Programs and Curricula II
Tagged Division: International Division (INTL)
Tagged Topic: Diversity
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/46626

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Paper Authors

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Sandra Jennina Sanchez Florida International University

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Ph.D. student in Higher Education at Florida International University. Ph.D. in Business Competitiveness and Economic Development from University of Deusto in Spain. Master of Business Administration (MBA) from University of Dallas, Texas. B.S. in Business Administration from Externado University in Colombia. Bilingual in English, and Spanish.
Expert in transforming educational models, with 12 years of experience in the education sector, managing and leading programs of high academic recognition and international positioning. 10 years of business experience in financial and administrative areas, leading organizational change management processes

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Abstract

Sustainability Literacy has become crucial in promoting Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). Embedding ESD in the design of global engineering courses implies the incorporation of Sustainability Literacy into curricula. Then, teaching and assessing sustainability knowledge in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) is essential to enhance sustainability awareness and to foster sustainable development. As a result, there is an increasing need in educating engineering students about sustainability knowledge to tackle sustainability related issues. In response to that need, this study aims to examine the increase of sustainability knowledge in the Industrial Engineering students at UniMinuto University in Colombia.

Students answered the Sustainability Literacy Test (Sulitest), an online standardized assessment tool that tests sustainability knowledge. The sample frame comprises 105 industrial engineering students at UniMinuto University in the city of Buga, Colombia. A binary logistic regression was applied to assess the significance of sustainability knowledge in relation to the students’ educational level. The results exhibit statistically significant differences between sustainability knowledge scores and the semester enrolled in the program.

Higher educational levels are associated with a higher likelihood of obtaining a better overall sustainability knowledge score. The probability of achieving higher overall sustainability knowledge scores is approximately 20% as industrial engineering students advance in the program. In addition, in the logistic regression model, confidence intervals can be calculated for the odds, where it is seen that the influence of the educational level can range from 1% to 43%. This is consistent with the fact that students are exposed to sustainability issues as they proceed through their studies, leading to greater knowledge of this topic. The results are valuable because they point out the significant importance of designing sustainable global courses in academic engineering programs. To the extent that HEIs incorporate and assess sustainability learning outcomes into curriculum, the future generations of leaders will promote a more sustainable future.

Citation
Format

Sanchez, S. J., & Ballen, J. D., & RUEDA VARON, M. J., & Robertson, D. L. (2024, June), Associating Sustainability Literacy with educational level of Industrial Engineering Students Paper presented at 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon. https://peer.asee.org/46626

TY - CPAPER
AB - Sustainability Literacy has become crucial in promoting Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). Embedding ESD in the design of global engineering courses implies the incorporation of Sustainability Literacy into curricula. Then, teaching and assessing sustainability knowledge in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) is essential to enhance sustainability awareness and to foster sustainable development. As a result, there is an increasing need in educating engineering students about sustainability knowledge to tackle sustainability related issues. In response to that need, this study aims to examine the increase of sustainability knowledge in the Industrial Engineering students at UniMinuto University in Colombia.

Students answered the Sustainability Literacy Test (Sulitest), an online standardized assessment tool that tests sustainability knowledge. The sample frame comprises 105 industrial engineering students at UniMinuto University in the city of Buga, Colombia. A binary logistic regression was applied to assess the significance of sustainability knowledge in relation to the students’ educational level. The results exhibit statistically significant differences between sustainability knowledge scores and the semester enrolled in the program.

Higher educational levels are associated with a higher likelihood of obtaining a better overall sustainability knowledge score. The probability of achieving higher overall sustainability knowledge scores is approximately 20% as industrial engineering students advance in the program. In addition, in the logistic regression model, confidence intervals can be calculated for the odds, where it is seen that the influence of the educational level can range from 1% to 43%. This is consistent with the fact that students are exposed to sustainability issues as they proceed through their studies, leading to greater knowledge of this topic. The results are valuable because they point out the significant importance of designing sustainable global courses in academic engineering programs. To the extent that HEIs incorporate and assess sustainability learning outcomes into curriculum, the future generations of leaders will promote a more sustainable future.
AU - Sandra Jennina Sanchez
AU - Jose Daniel Ballen
AU - MILTON JANUARIO RUEDA VARON
AU - Douglas Lee Robertson
CY - Portland, Oregon
DA - 2024/06/23
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - Associating Sustainability Literacy with educational level of Industrial Engineering Students
UR - https://peer.asee.org/46626
ER -