Sustainability in (engineering) education through reclaiming and reusing electronic components from e-waste: a last decade research review
International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education
ISSN: 1467-6370
Article publication date: 5 July 2024
Issue publication date: 2 January 2025
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the e-waste aspect of sustainability in education, with a specific interest in engineering education. Specifically, it focuses on recycling through reclaiming electronic components from e-waste and reusing them in repairs or in the design and construction of new devices.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic literature review is performed according to the PRISMA methodology. In total, 27 articles are analysed as to publication parameters, characteristics and evaluation of educational interventions on e-waste and evaluation results across major domains of learning (cognitive, affective and 21st century skills).
Findings
The reviewed subject is under-research; publications are rare and mostly in conference proceedings. The majority of interventions take place at university level, in face-to-face mode, using a practical approach in hands-on labs. Educational methods draw from modern, learner-centred pedagogies such as collaborative learning and constructionism. Topics focus on innovative design and construction, while interventions tend to become embedded in engineering curricula/courses. Evaluation of learners’ gains across domains of learning is rare and follows informal procedures that shake the reliability of results. Domains other than the cognitive are scarcely and subjectively evaluated.
Originality/value
Contrary to other aspects of sustainability, the aspect of e-waste has not been reviewed. The applied, hands-on approach and the analytic, synthetic, collaboration and creativity skills it requires are all much valued in education. The current review, therefore, comes to inform, inspire and guide educators and researchers in planning and implementing activities on this subject.
Keywords
Citation
Nikoloudakis, N. and Rangoussi, M. (2024), "Sustainability in (engineering) education through reclaiming and reusing electronic components from e-waste: a last decade research review", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 26 No. 1, pp. 181-198. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-09-2023-0405
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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