ICT Sustainability from Day One: Introducing New Computer Science Students at a UK University to Sustainability

Brooks, Ian

Abstract

As ICT impacts dramatically on the sustainability of the world and of individuals, both positive and negative, there is an urgent need to educate Computer Science students about Sustainability. This paper assesses the experience of a project to introduce new University students in a Computer Science department to concepts of sustainability. It describes the team project approach used during the first few weeks of a student's time at the University of the West of England and the standard template for sustainable technology proposals. It reviews the learning from five years of the programme and engagement of over 250 students. The programme has received positive student feedback and broadened the sustainability awareness of students. It has become an opportunity to introduce all new students in the department to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The programme has shown reduced levels of student engagement in recent years and the paper explores some of the reasons for this. Overall, the programme makes a positive contribution to achievement of the University's sustainability policy and supports the requirements of the relevant professional body and the UK Quality Assurance Agency.)

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (published)
• Conference Name: 6th International Conference on ICT for Sustainability
• Start Date: Jun 10, 2019
• End Date: Jun 14, 2019
• Acceptance Date: Mar 1, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Jun 17, 2019
• Publication Date: Jun 17, 2019
• Deposit Date: Mar 15, 2020
• Volume: Vol-2382
• Series ISSN: 1613-0073
• Keywords: Index Terms-ICT4S; Sustainability; Computer Science; Education for Sustainable Development; ESD; SDG
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/5680945
• Publisher URL: http://ceur-ws.org/Vol-2382/ICT4S2019_paper_15.pdf