Curriculum Design for Circular Economy Skills in Built Environment Education

Why It Matters

As the built environment sector faces increasing pressure to reduce its environmental impact, educational institutions must adapt their programs. This research highlights the need for a structured approach to integrate circular economy concepts, ensuring future professionals are prepared to design, manage, and operate buildings with a life-cycle perspective that minimizes greenhouse gas emissions.

Key Finding

The research identifies a need for better educational approaches to teach circular economy principles in the built environment, proposing a skill-based curriculum framework to prepare professionals for sustainable development.

Key Findings

• There is a limited amount of research on implementing circular economy concepts in secondary and higher education for the built environment.
• A holistic educational approach is needed to develop a comprehensive set of skills for circularity.
• Specific skills are identified that can contribute to lowering greenhouse gas emissions throughout a building's lifecycle.

Research Evidence

Aim: How can a curriculum be developed to effectively teach circular economy concepts and foster essential skills for built environment professionals?

Method: Literature Review and Curriculum Development Framework

Procedure: The study reviewed existing literature on circular economy adoption in education and identified a gap in curriculum development for built environment management. It then proposed a framework for integrating circular economy principles into a Master's level program, outlining key skills required for students.

Context: Higher Education, Built Environment Management, Circular Economy

Design Principle

Education for a circular economy requires a skill-centric curriculum that addresses the entire lifecycle of built environment assets.

How to Apply

Review existing course content for built environment programs and identify opportunities to incorporate modules on circular economy principles, material passports, deconstruction strategies, and life-cycle assessment.

Limitations

The study focuses specifically on Master's level education in Facility Management and may not be directly transferable to all levels or disciplines within the built environment.

Student Guide (IB Design Technology)

Simple Explanation: To make buildings more sustainable, we need to teach future builders and managers about the 'circular economy' – using resources wisely and reusing them as much as possible. This research suggests creating new courses that focus on the specific skills needed for this.

Why This Matters: Understanding how to educate future designers and engineers about sustainability is crucial for driving real-world change. This research shows that a structured curriculum is key to developing the necessary expertise for a circular built environment.

Critical Thinking: To what extent can existing educational structures adapt to incorporate the comprehensive skill set required for a truly circular built environment, and what are the primary barriers to such adaptation?

IA-Ready Paragraph: This research highlights a critical gap in current educational approaches for the built environment, emphasizing the need for curriculum development focused on circular economy principles. The authors propose that a holistic educational framework, centered on specific skill acquisition, is essential for preparing future professionals to contribute to sustainable development and reduce the environmental impact of buildings throughout their lifecycle.

Project Tips

• When researching sustainability in design, look for studies that propose specific educational frameworks or skill sets.
• Consider how your design project can address the need for new skills in a circular economy context.

How to Use in IA

• Reference this study when discussing the importance of educational approaches in achieving sustainability goals within your design project.
• Use the identified skills as a basis for evaluating your own design's contribution to a circular economy.

Examiner Tips

• Demonstrate an understanding of how educational frameworks can influence the adoption of sustainable design practices.
• Connect your design choices to the skills and knowledge required for a circular economy.

Independent Variable: Curriculum development strategies for circular economy principles

Dependent Variable: Skills acquired by built environment professionals

Controlled Variables: Level of education (Master's), discipline (Built Environment Management)

Strengths

• Addresses a clear research gap in educational approaches for the circular economy.
• Provides a practical framework for curriculum development.

Critical Questions

• How can the proposed skills be effectively measured and assessed within an educational setting?
• What are the long-term economic and environmental benefits of implementing such a curriculum?

Extended Essay Application

• Investigate the effectiveness of different teaching methodologies for conveying complex circular economy concepts to engineering students.
• Develop a prototype curriculum for a specific aspect of the circular built environment and pilot test its impact on student understanding and skill development.

Source

Focus on Skills for a Circular Built Environment in a New Curriculum Development · Springer tracts in civil engineering · 2023 · 10.1007/978-3-031-45980-1_13