Embedding Sustainability in Built Environment Curricula: Opportunities and Challenges

This book offers a comprehensive collection of best practices, gathered from classrooms across the globe, aimed at actively engaging students in sustainability. These tried and tested methods, presented within its pages, provide educators with valuable tools that can be easily adopted or tailored to their own academic environments. Moreover, this book serves as resource for policymakers, shedding light on the fundamental drivers and formidable challenges associated with integrating sustainability principles within higher education institutions. As an added bonus, researchers will find an overview of the cutting-edge literature currently available, as well as valuable suggestions for future research.

Michele Victoria is a Lecturer and Course Leader for the Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management undergraduate course at the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment at Robert Gordon University. Michele has more than 10 years of experience in Higher Education and has taught several built environment modules. Her research expertise lies in sustainability-related topics, with a particular focus on embodied carbon, cost management, and the circular economy—areas she actively integrates into her teaching. In addition to her academic responsibilities, Michele engages in various sustainability initiatives by collaborating with industry professionals and professional bodies. Michele is the Chair of the Sustainability Committee of the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES) and led a working group of commercial civil engineering surveyors to develop a white paper on sustainability, which was launched in September 2024. Richard Laing is a Professor of Urban Collaboration. Richard has almost 30 years experience in Higher Education in Architecture and the Built Environment. This has included research concerning sustainable cities, where he found innovative ways to integrate this within teaching. Richard is a Chartered Surveyor and is a validated lead expert for URBACT, a European initiative seeking to work with cities to enact sustainable policies and behaviours. Throughout his career, he has sought to explore connections between urbanism, sustainable design, user engagement, and how these can be explored through teaching and research. Whitney Bevan is a Lecturer in Construction Management at the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment at Robert Gordon University. Whitney has over 10 years of teaching and research experience, having worked in partnership with industry, local authorities, professional bodies, construction training providers and communities. Whitney’s expertise surround sustainability within the built environment, skills for the construction workforce and sustainable communities. Her research and interests also extend to championing women in construction, and Whitney has led and coordinated several projects in teaching, learning and community engagement to amplify women in STEM. Whitney is Vice Chair of the CIOB Scotland Northern Hub and a committee member of the CIOB Accreditation Panel. Whitney is also a Property Research Trust (PRT) Trustee member.