Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

A National Collaboration Process: Finnish Engineering Education for the Benefit of People and Environment

  • Published:
Science and Engineering Ethics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The key stakeholders of the Finnish engineering education collaborated during 2006–09 to reform the system of education, to face the challenges of the changing business environment and to create a national strategy for the Finnish engineering education. The work process was carried out using participatory work methods. Impacts of sustainable development (SD) on engineering education were analysed in one of the subprojects. In addition to participatory workshops, the core part of the work on SD consisted of a research with more than 60 interviews and an extensive literature survey. This paper discusses the results of the research and the work process of the Collaboration Group in the subproject of SD. It is suggested that enhancing systematic dialogue among key stakeholders using participatory work methods is crucial in increasing motivation and commitment in incorporating SD in engineering education. Development of the context of learning is essential for improving skills of engineering graduates in some of the key abilities related to SD: systemic- and life-cycle thinking, ethical understanding, collaborative learning and critical reflection skills. This requires changing of the educational paradigm from teacher-centred to learner-centred applying problem- and project-oriented active learning methods.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allenby, B., Folsom Murphy, C., Allen, D., & Davidson, C. (2009). Sustainable engineering education in the United States. Sustainability Science, 4(1), 7–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allt, S., & Korhonen-Yrjänheikki, K. (2008). Teknillisen korkeakoulutuksen kansallinen strategia: Yhteistyössä tekniikasta hyvinvointia. Helsinki: Tekniikan Akateemisten Liitto TEK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ashford, N. A. (2004). Major challenges to engineering education for sustainable development. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 5(3), 239–250.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baron, R. S., & Kerr, N. L. (2003). Group process, group decision, group action. Buckingham: Open University Press. McGraw-Hill Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blewitt, J. (2008). Understanding sustainable development. London: Earthscan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boisot, M. H. (1998). Knowledge assets. Securing competitive advantage in the information economy. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyle, C. (2004). Considerations on educating engineers in sustainability. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 5(2), 147–155.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bucciarelli, L. L. (2008). Ethics and engineering education. European Journal of Engineering Education, 33(2), 141–149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Connelly, S. (2007). Mapping sustainable development as a contested concept. Local Environment, 12(3), 259–278.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cullingford, C. (2004). Sustainability and higher education. In J. Blewitt & C. Cullingford (Eds.), The sustainability curriculum. The challenge for higher education (pp. 13–23). London: Earthscan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Downey, G. (2005). Are engineers losing control of technology? From ‘Problem Solving’ to ‘Problem definition and solution’ in engineering education. Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 83(A6), 583–595.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El-Zein, A., Airey, D., Bowden, D., & Clarkeburn, H. (2008). Sustainability and ethics as desicion-making paradigms in engineering curricula. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 9(2), 170–182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fenner, R. A., Ainger, C. M., Cruickshank, H. J., & Guthrie, P. M. (2005). Embedding sustainable development at Cambridge University Engineering Department. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 6(3), 229–241.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gough, S. (2002). Right answers to wrong problems? Towards a theory of change for environmental learning. The Trumpeter, 18(1), 1–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gough, S., & Scott, W. (2007). Higher education and sustainable development: Paradox and possibility. Abingdon, Oxon; New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hajer, M. A. (1995). The politics of environmental discourse. Ecological Modernization and the PolicyProcess. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holmberg, J., Svanström, M., Peet, D. J., Mulder, K., Ferrer-Balas, D., & Segalàs, J. (2008). Embedding sustainability in higher education through interaction with lecturers: Case studies from three European technical universities. European Journal of Engineering Education, 33(3), 271–282.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IMD. (2009). World competitiveness Yearbook 2009. Institute for Management Development IMD.

  • Kates, R. W., Parris, T. M., & Leiserowitz, A. A. (2005). What is sustainable development? Goals, indicators, values, and practice. Environment, 47(3), 10–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Korhonen, K. (1997). Educating engineers of the 21st century—the challenges of higher engineering education in Finland. Master’s thesis. Helsinki: The Finnish Association of Graduate Engineers TEK.

  • Korhonen-Yrjänheikki, K. (2004). Suomalainen teknillinen korkeakoulutus ja toimintaympäristön muutos vuoteen 2015. Licentiate thesis. Helsinki: Tekniikan Akateemisten Liitto TEK.

  • Korhonen-Yrjänheikki, K. (2005). Delfoi-paneelin valintaprosessi—esimerkkinä teknillisen korkeakoulutuksen vaikuttajasidosryhmien argumentoiva Delfoi-paneeli. Futura, 1(05), 105–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Korhonen-Yrjänheikki, K. (2007).Yhteistyössä teknillisen korkeakoulutuksen kansallinen strategia. Raportti Aulangon strategiatapahtumasta 29–30.11.2006. Helsinki: Tekniikan Akateemisten Liitto TEK.

  • Korhonen-Yrjänheikki, K. (2011) Future of the finnish engineering education—a collaborative stakeholder approach. Doctoral dissertation at Aalto University School of Science. Helsinki: Academic Engineers and Architects in Finland TEK. http://www.tek.fi/engineeringfuture.

  • Korhonen-Yrjänheikki, K., & Allt, S. (2004). Teknillinen korkeakoulutus Suomen hyvinvoinnin ja kilpailukyvyn edistäjänä tulevaisuudessa. FuturEng-hankkeen loppuraportti. Helsinki: Tekniikan Akateemisten Liitto TEK.

  • Michelsen, K. E. (1999). Viides sääty. Insinöörit suomalaisessa yhteiskunnassa. Helsinki: Tekniikan Akateemisten Liitto TEK.

  • Mulder, K. F. (1999). From environmental training to engineering for sustainable development: A return ticket? In S. Pöyry (Ed.) Proceedings of ENTREE 99: Sustainable use of natural resources—cooperative planning and actions, 10–13 November, Tampere (pp. 239–245). Brussels, EEE Network.

  • Mulvhill, P. R., & Milan, M. J. (2007). Subtle world: Beyond sustainability, beyond information. Futures, 39(6), 657–668.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nahapiet, J., & Ghoshal, S. (1998). Social capital, intellectual capital and the organizational advantage. Academy of Management Review, 23(2), 242–266.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newman, L. (2005). Uncertainty, innovation, and dynamic sustainable development. Sustainability Science Practice & Policy, 1(2), 25–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nonaka, I., Toyama, R., & Konno, N. (2000). SECI, Ba and leadership: A unified model of dynamic knowledge creation. Long Range Planning, 33(1), 5–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Owen, H. (2008). Open space technology. A user’s guide. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peet, D.-J., Mulder, K. F., & Bijma, A. (2004). Integrating SD into engineering courses at the Delft University of Technology. The individual interaction method. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 5(3), 278–288.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pritchard, J., & Baillie, C. (2006). How can engineering education contribute to a sustainable future? European Journal of Engineering Education, 31(5), 555–565.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Savolainen, J. (2009). Tekkiläisten työssä hurja muutosvauhti. TEK Tekniikan Akateemiset, 7/2009: 34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scharmer, O. (2009). Theory U. Leading from the future as it emerges. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharp, L. (2002). Green campuses: The road from little victories to systematic transformations. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 3(2), 128–145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stangor, C. (2004). Social groups in action and interaction. New York: Psychology Press, Taylor and Francis Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sterling, S. (2001). Sustainable education, re-visioning learning and change. Totnes, Devon: Schumacher Briefing No.6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sterling, S. (2004). Higher education, sustainability, and the role of systemic learning. In P. B. Corcoran & A. E. J. Wals (Eds.), Higher education and the challenge of sustainability—problematics, promise and practice (pp. 49–70). Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Tilbury, D., & Cooke, K. (2005). A national review of environmental education and its contribution to sustainability in Australia: Frameworks for sustainability. Australian Research Institute on Education for Sustainability. http://www.aries.mq.edu.au/projects/national_review/files/volume1/Volume1_Final05.pdf. Accessed 18 August 2008.

  • Wals, A. E. J. (2006). The end of ESD… the beginning of transformative learning – emphasizing the E in ESD. In M. Cantell (Ed.) Kestävää kehitystä edistävä koulutus -seminaari 15.2.2006 (pp. 41–59). Helsinki: Suomen Unesco-toimikunnan julkaisusarja No 82.

  • WCED (The World Commission on Environment, Development). (1987). Our common future. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weisbord, M., & Janoff, S. (2000). Future search. An action guide to finding common ground in organizations and communities. San Francisco: Berret-Koehler Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the significant work done by the key stakeholders of the Finnish engineering education in the three development and anticipation projects during past 15 years. Especially we want to thank the Members of the National Collaboration Group for their efforts during years 2007–09. The authors are also grateful to the Steering Group of the research project on SD who actively participated in commenting the research throughout the project between May 2008 and April 2009, and naturally all 66 interviewees who made the research possible. The research was funded by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture and TEK. In addition, the financial support of the VALUE - Doctoral Program in Integrated Catchment and Water Resources Management - is gratefully acknowledged.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Environmental Engineering and Biotechnology, Tampere University of Technology, P.O. Box 541, 33101, Tampere, Finland

    A. Takala

  2. Academic Engineers and Architects in Finland TEK, Ratavartijankatu 2, 00520, Helsinki, Finland

    K. Korhonen-Yrjänheikki

Authors
  1. A. Takala
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. K. Korhonen-Yrjänheikki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Takala.

Additional information

Draft of this paper was first presented at the Engineering Education in Sustainable Development EESD’10 Conference, Gothenburg 22 September 2010.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Takala, A., Korhonen-Yrjänheikki, K. A National Collaboration Process: Finnish Engineering Education for the Benefit of People and Environment. Sci Eng Ethics 19, 1557–1569 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-011-9330-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-011-9330-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation