EC4uS Engineering Curricula for (u)Society

The main goal of the Engineering Curricula for Society (EC4uS) project is the development of a framework and tools for helping Higher Education Institutions (HEI) in building contextualized and inclusive engineering curricula, capable of addressing in a proper way a number of challenges that nowadays exist regarding engineering courses. Gender unbalance [9, 15] and early dropout rates [4-8] are two concerns and realities of STEM courses in general, and engineering courses in particular. EC4uS proposes that engineering curricula must be tailored and updated taking into account these challenges, at the same time preparing under and postgraduate academic paths to the societal challenges, needs and requirements, aiming for better and well prepared professionals and citizens. Additionally, and taking into account the current worldwide Covid-19 pandemic period, and how this has affected the dynamic of HEI and academic systems worldwide, engineering curricula can also benefit from a deep reflection and alignment to a new reality requiring not only new teaching/learning formats, techniques and technologies, but also new and updated competencies by both teachers and, particularly, students. This rethinking process can therefore help HEI in providing graduation and postgraduation academic offers capable of creating innovation, economic growth and social impact of labour markets and society in general. Aligned to these goals, EC4uS project intends to help HIE in rethinking and make engineering courses more attractive to women, student-centred and at the same time aligned with global challenges of a post-pandemic world and society. Carrying out research and development within the field, the project will directly and effectively provide answers to one of the priorities of the European Education Area by 2025, namely “the promotion of a new higher education curricula for engineering courses, and professionals, of the future” [11]. Traditionally, higher education engineering curricula are built relying on internal, self-centred, procedures and silo discussions among HEI staff. With EC4uS project, an innovative framework and disruptive tools will be made available to HEI decision-making process, methodologies based on true engagement of stakeholders (internal and external) and therefore providing a co-creation environment grounded on methodologies of alignment index measurement, product development and societal needs satisfaction, in building alternative and inclusive engineering curricula [16]. This comprehensive and integrative approach is believed to therefore aid Higher Education Institutions in providing more relevant and suitable competencies for future STEM professionals, namely engineers in their role as professionals but also as citizens. Combining the interdisciplinary expertise of a research team that aggregates competencies in the fields of engineering education [16,17], assessment of students’ skills [22,23] and gender balance evaluation in HEI [9,15], with a unique opportunity to rethink engineering curricula and test innovative and participative methodologies, during a demanding and “tip point” time where new questions and answers are truly needed, all these factors, taken into account together, reinforce the value and potential impact of the EC4uS project.