Evaluating the Impact of Sustainability and Renewable Energy Education on Engineering Undergraduates’ Knowledge,Attitudes,and Behaviors

Abstract

This study examines the impact of sustainability education on undergraduate engineering students’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to environmental protection and renewable energy at two distinct universities in the southeastern United States. Through a comparative pre and postcourse analysis of 151 students over 2 years, the research employed paired sample t-tests, correlation analysis (by gender and major), and a regression analysis. Qualitative analysis of open-ended responses further explored shifts in students’ attitudes. The study found that sustainability-focused courses helped students develop more positive attitudes toward renewable energy, increased their willingness to adopt sustainable practices, and influenced their career decisions. The courses showed comparable improvements that impacted both male and female students and students from various engineering majors. This suggests the curriculum can be generalized and implemented across diverse student populations without disadvantage. Overall, the results show that sustainability education focused on renewable energy can inspire engineering students to care more about the environment and be motivated to act, but the curriculum could be further revised to improve knowledge retention, in particular. These findings offer valuable insights for educators working to prepare future engineers to tackle global sustainability issues.