Pearce, A R; Smith, S A; Saxton, M and De Soto, A (2018) Sustainability boot camp: Bridging disciplines to create a sustainable future. International Journal of Construction Education and Research, 14(1), pp. 59-73. ISSN 1557-8771
Abstract
Today's college graduates seek employment that contributes to sustainability, while employers seek new employees who have practical, hands-on experience addressing sustainability challenges. However, few students emerge from university with the mindset and tools to immediately apply sustainability concepts to the challenges they face. A multidisciplinary, immersive, co-curricular "boot camp" sustainability learning experience can address these challenges. This article describes the design and pilot testing of a sustainability boot camp at Virginia Tech involving a team of nine interdisciplinary faculty fellows from 6 colleges and insight from over 200 sustainability experts from multiple domains. Learning outcomes were developed based on thematic analysis of industry interviews from multiple sectors, yielding a set of competencies that companies seek in new hires for sustainability positions. The program is structured around three elements (sustainability integration, professional development, and network building) and incorporates lectures, professional development training, networking opportunities, and problem-based learning to help students develop a "sustainability lens" that can be applied to not only future professional activities but also personal decisions. The first two offerings of the boot camp with 60 students provided lessons learned for others developing similar programs.;Today's college graduates seek employment that contributes to sustainability, while employers seek new employees who have practical, hands-on experience addressing sustainability challenges. However, few students emerge from university with the mindset and tools to immediately apply sustainability concepts to the challenges they face. A multidisciplinary, immersive, co-curricular "boot camp" sustainability learning experience can address these challenges. This article describes the design and pilot testing of a sustainability boot camp at Virginia Tech involving a team of nine interdisciplinary faculty fellows from 6 colleges and insight from over 200 sustainability experts from multiple domains. Learning outcomes were developed based on thematic analysis of industry interviews from multiple sectors, yielding a set of competencies that companies seek in new hires for sustainability positions. The program is structured around three elements (sustainability integration, professional development, and network building) and incorporates lectures, professional development training, networking opportunities, and problem-based learning to help students develop a "sustainability lens" that can be applied to not only future professional activities but also personal decisions. The first two offerings of the boot camp with 60 students provided lessons learned for others developing similar programs.;
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | co-curricular; pedagogy; construction; sustainability; design; learning; students; graduates; professional development; sustainable development; universities |
| Index terms: | thematic analysis, face, problem-based learning, interview, sustainable development, mindset, integration, testing, pedagogy, lessons learned, learning outcome, program, networking, employment, college graduate, learning experience, professional development, sustainability challenge |
| Subjects: | organizational analysis, learning methods, software systems, environmental issues, health safety and environment, professional development, methods and analysis, management, data collection methods, student development, health behaviours and lifestyles, communication, professional practice, sociology, psychology, teaching methods |
| Topics: | Stakeholder Management, Digital Applications, Research Practice, Organizational Design, Information Management, Engineering Principles, Sustainability, Health and Safety, Education, Human Resources |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here