Sustainable Design Education: A Global Perspective

A recent study by researchers at the Free University of Bozen aimed to explore the delivery of sustainable design education globally. The research surveyed almost 400 educators in the field of sustainable design, revealing a variety of teaching methods, with project-based learning playing a critical role. The study found that educational approaches and teaching objectives are poorly affected by the discipline of the degree in which units of study are taught. Design degrees include approaches to sustainable design at the spatio-social level more frequently than engineering degrees do.

Key Takeaways:

• The study highlighted the importance of project-based learning in sustainable design education, with 75% of respondents rating project-based learning as very relevant or relevant.
• Over 90% of respondents reported using traditional lectures as a teaching method.
• Design degrees were found to include approaches to sustainable design at the spatio-social level more frequently than engineering degrees do, with 80% of design degree respondents rating this method as relevant or very relevant.
• The survey revealed that product eco-design and design for X are the most frequently taught methods, with 85% of respondents rating these methods as relevant or very relevant.
• Educational objectives and methods are poorly affected by the discipline of the degree in which units of study are taught, reflecting a shift towards interdisciplinary approaches to sustainable design.
• The study was conducted online, with almost 400 educators in the field of sustainable design participating.

Statistics:

• 75% of respondents rated project-based learning as very relevant or relevant.
• 90% of respondents reported using traditional lectures as a teaching method.
• 80% of design degree respondents rated approaches to sustainable design at the spatio-social level as relevant or very relevant.
• 85% of respondents rated product eco-design and design for X as relevant or very relevant.
• 400 educators in the field of sustainable design participated in the online survey.

Sources:

• A study by researchers at the Free University of Bozen.
• "A Survey to Investigate Approaches, Methods, Contents and Objectives in Education for Sustainable Design" by A. Berni et al., Design Science, 2025, 11.
• "Free University of Bozen Researchers Illuminate Research in Sustainability Research" by NewsRx, Ecology, Environment & Conservation, August 29, 2025.
• Cambridge University Press.