Journal article
Teaching life cycle assessment in higher education
Pforzheim University of Applied Sciences1
Solent University2
Université de Sherbrooke3
Université de Bordeaux4
PRé Consultants B.V.5
Zurich University of Applied Sciences6
Sustainability, Department of Technology, Management and Economics, Technical University of Denmark7
Quantitative Sustainability Assessment, Sustainability, Society and Economics, Department of Technology, Management and Economics, Technical University of Denmark8
Department of Technology, Management and Economics, Technical University of Denmark9
Technical University of Darmstadt10
...and 0 morePurpose: Scientific Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) literature provides some examples of LCA teaching in higher education, but not a structured overview of LCA teaching contents and related competencies. Hence this paper aims at assessing and highlighting trends in LCA learning outcomes, teaching approaches and developed content used to equip graduates for their future professional practices in sustainability.
Methods: Based on a literature review on teaching LCA in higher education and a collaborative consensus building approach through expert group panel discussions, an overview of LCA learning and competency levels with related teaching contents and corresponding workload is developed. The levels are built on the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) and Bloom’s taxonomy of learning.
Results and discussion: The paper frames five LCA learning and competency levels that differ in terms of study program integration, workload, cognitive domain categories, learning outcomes, and envisioned professional skills. It furthermore provides insights into teaching approaches and content, including software use, related to these levels.
Conclusions and recommendations: This paper encourages and supports higher educational bodies to implement a minimum of ‘life cycle literacy’ into students’ curriculum across various domains by increasing the availability, visibility and quality of their teaching on life cycle thinking and LCA.
Language: | English |
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Publisher: | Springer Berlin Heidelberg |
Year: | 2021 |
Pages: | 511-527 |
ISSN: | 16147502 and 09483349 |
Types: | Journal article |
DOI: | 10.1007/s11367-020-01844-3 |
ORCIDs: | 0000-0001-9030-2405 and Laurent, Alexis |