Embedding sustainable development goals in architectural education: a case study of Menoufia University 2023 graduation projects
Abstract
Purpose
Sustainable design is a new paradigm to localize sustainable development. The Union Internationale des Architectes (UIA) prepared guidelines for architectural projects to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Using the theory of change, the Department of Architecture at Menofia University set the 2023 graduation project to explore the possibility of adopting sustainable design principles and integrating SDGs into architectural education. The paper documents and evaluates the experiment to drive best practices and lessons learned.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper utilized a mixed design strategy utilizing qualitative and quantitative techniques. It gathered data from various sources, including a student questionnaire and unstructured interviews with external examiners. Data analysis included frequency distribution and sentiment, content and thematic analyses. Triangulation is applied, combining data, investigator and methodological triangulation to enhance the paper’s validity.
Findings
Integrating SDGs into the 2023 graduation project contributed to students’ understanding of sustainable urban development. Students demonstrated varying receptiveness to guidelines, focusing mainly on the SDGs (1-5, 7, 8, 10 and 11). Gender equality and economic empowerment struck a chord with the mostly female students, acknowledging that securing well-paying jobs is a way to escape the cycle of poverty. Challenges included limited resources and time constraints, a scarcity of Arabic reading materials and misunderstandings among students and staff, thus prompting collaborative efforts beyond standard studio hours. Despite challenges, the initiative contributes to sustainable urban development, providing valuable lessons learned and insights.
Originality/value
Integrating sustainable design principles into architectural education is doable but involves a complex process requiring careful preparation. The value lies in the tangible impact on sustainable urban development, emphasizing the importance of incorporating sustainable development concepts throughout the architectural curriculum. The authors advocate for increased awareness and education among stakeholders and suggest areas for future research by exploring a broader implementation and assessing the long-term effects on students’ mindsets and practices. Sustainable development is a means toward community prosperity, and the inquiry highlights the collective responsibility of scholars, practitioners and students in shaping a better future.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to extend their heartfelt appreciation to all individuals who have provided support during this research endeavor. The authors thank the Department of Architectural Engineering Menoufia University’s staff members for their diligent contributions and enthusiastic participation in the initiative. The authors thank the external jurors for their valuable time and opinions and the local officials for cooperating in providing the necessary information. We extend our gratitude to the 2023 graduates who faced and overcame challenges to obtain their degrees. Their genuine comments were crucial in making this inquiry feasible. The research is carried out as part of the department’s research plan. The writers did not receive any monetary assistance. The opinions presented in the paper are exclusively those of the authors. The authors of this research endeavor are solely responsible for its content and accept full accountability for any inaccuracies or exclusions.
Citation
El-Kholei, A.O., Amer, A.S. and Yassein, G.A. (2024), "Embedding sustainable development goals in architectural education: a case study of Menoufia University 2023 graduation projects", Archnet-IJAR, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/ARCH-12-2023-0326
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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