Jordi SegalasUniversitat Politècnica de Catalunya | UPC · IS.UPC - University Research Institute for Sustainability Science and Technology
Jordi Segalas
Associate professor
About
71
Publications
24,853
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1,697
Citations
Citations since 2017
Introduction
Jordi Segalàs (1967) works as associate professor at the UPC-Barcelona Tech. He is Director of the Research Institute of Sustainability Science and Technology and coordinates the Research Group on Sustainability Education and Technology. He obtained his PhD in Sustainability Education in Engineering. He is working in curriculum greening policies and transdisciplianrity learning for sustainability. He is also working in TEMPUS projects related to sustainability in higher education.
Additional affiliations
January 2015 - April 2017
September 1991 - January 2015
Publications
Publications (71)
“Publish or perish” is a well-known aphorism in academia. However, this mantra has often led to excessive pressure to publish increasing numbers of manuscripts without commensurate care for quality. Such pressure has been associated with evaluation systems that push researchers to focus on various scientometrics indicators, such as publishing in jo...
This paper features a methodology for embedding and assessing a competency in an academic curriculum using competency maps. This methodology enables embedding and assessment of any competency in any curriculum, regardless of the educational level, as long as the competency is correctly described by means of a competency map. As an example of the ap...
The main objective of the EDINSOST2-SDG project is to introduce sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Higher Education. The project focuses on Engineering degrees, Education Degrees, and the Business Administration and Management degrees of the Spanish university system. The project has four main objectives: (O1) Identify t...
Education for sustainable development (ESD) is essential for humanity to overcome the immense challenges it faces as a result of human actions on nature [...]
This paper presents three tools developed within the framework of the project EDINSOST2-SDG, aimed at embedding and assessing the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Engineering curricula. ESD is promoted through the introduction into engineering curricula of learning outcomes related to sustainability and, specifically, to the Sustainab...
The aim of this multiple case-study analysis was to find out the influence that service-learning methodology has on the development of sustainability competences amongst university students (Preschool, Primary and Social Education) of three Spanish Universities (UIC, UAM and USAL). A sample of 129 university students of the academic year 2017–18 wa...
This article presents the results of the EDINSOST project in relation to the university faculty’s practice concerns and the need to embed sustainability education in the Spanish Higher Education system. Four questions were devised to determine (1) which conceptions the university faculty has about sustainability in the context of the Spanish higher...
Purpose
This paper aims to present key characteristics of educational design briefs for the circular economy (CE) through the analysis of 11 design briefs focussing on real-life challenges related to sustainability and the CE, developed with collaborating industry partners for four consecutive circular design internships conducted in Ireland, Catal...
INTRODUCCIÓN. El objetivo de esta investigación ha sido indagar sobre la influencia de la metodología de aprendizaje-servicio en el desarrollo de competencias en sostenibilidad de los estudiantes de las titulaciones de Educación (Primaria, Infantil y Social) de tres universidades espa- ñolas (UIC, UAM y USAL). MÉTODO. Se utilizó una muestra de 129...
Developing a successful design brief that tackles the current growing environmental problems, challenges the current dominant systems and enables circular solutions is a complex task. Briefs are an integral step for framing the design projects and they require a systemic approach to facilitate desired sustainable outcomes from projects. While there...
Teaching Circular Design is the result of an extensive collaboration between academics and designers who have an expertise on various fields of circular design. Over the course of two years, this learning guide has been developed as a reader for the Circular Design Professional Development Course that was created as a part of the Erasmus+ project C...
Purpose
This paper aims to identify patterns and trends taking place in engineering education in sustainability, through analyzing the evolution of research conducted in relevant publications in the field of engineering education for sustainability in the past decades.
Design/methodology/approach
First, a bibliometric approach has been applied, ad...
In the original publication of the article, the co-author Dr. Gisela Cebrián Bernat has not been included in the article.
Higher education is a principal agent for addressing the sustainable development goals proposed by the 2030 Agenda, because of its key mission of knowledge generation, teaching and social innovation for sustainability. In order to achieve this, higher education needs to integrate transversally the values of sustainability in the way of developing t...
Higher education is a principal agent for addressing the sustainable development goals proposed by the 2030 Agenda, because of its key mission of knowledge generation, teaching and social innovation for sustainability. In order to achieve this, higher education needs to integrate transversally the values of sustainability in the way of developing t...
EDINSOST is a project aimed at tackling the challenges facing society. It is funded by the Spanish R&D+i Program. The objective of the project is to establish a framework to facilitate the training of graduates capable of leading the resolution of challenges in our society through the integration of sustainability training in the Spanish University...
In education for sustainable development (ESD), the inclusion and handling of a multitude of perspectives and the interconnectivity of different dimensions of the world are often targeted. Based on the assumption that concept maps can capture notions of this learning, concept maps generated by students were used to complement a large number of othe...
The objective of the EDINSOST project is to facilitate the training of graduates capable of leading the resolution of challenges in our society through the integration of sustainability training in the Spanish University System. The project focuses in engineering degrees, given their great impact of engineering graduates on the short-term, and educ...
EDINSOST es un proyecto financiado por el Programa Estatal español de I+D+i. Su objetivo es la formación de titulados capaces de liderar la resolución de los retos de nuestra sociedad mediante la integración de la formación en sostenibilidad en el Sistema Universitario Español. En el proyecto participan 55 investigadores de 10 universidades español...
The Research Institute for Sustainability Science and Technology under the Master degree in Sustainability Science and Technology organises the course action research workshop on Science and Technology for Sustainability (5 ECTS). The authors have been coordinating the course during the academic years 13/14, 14/15 and 15/16. The purpose of the work...
Sustainability issues, as unwanted results of not fully respecting natural cycles, are widely recognized as wicked problems, which should not be thought of as problems to be solved, but rather as “conditions” to be managed, as if they were a chronic disease (Seager et al., 2011). There exists a general agreement on the need to reform scientific exp...
EDINSOST es un proyecto financiado por el Progra-ma Estatal de I+D+i, y está orientado a afrontar los Retos de la Sociedad. El proyecto tiene por objetivo la formación de titulados capaces de liderar la reso-lución de los retos de nuestra sociedad mediante la integración de la formación en sostenibilidad en el Sistema Universitario Español. En el p...
En este artículo se presenta el primer resultado del proyecto EDINSOST: un mapa de la competencia Sostenibilidad para el Grado de Ingeniería Informática, fácilmente adaptable a cualquier titulación de Grado en Ingeniería
Knowledge is of primary importance for sustainabilising energy systems. It is not just the knowledge to develop new generic technological systems, but especially the knowledge to pick the right energy systems for the local conditions, and to use these conditions optimally to sustainabilise the pre-existing energy systems. Both the geophysical condi...
A promising approach for addressing sustainability problems is to recognize the unique conditions of a particular place, such as problem features and solution capabilities, and adopt and adapt solutions developed at other places around the world. Therefore, research and teaching in international networks becomes critical, as it allows for accelerat...
Sustainability problems are widely recognised as wicked problems. The scientific
expertise needed to deal with multifaceted and complex sustainability problems
requires innovation, creative thinking, action-orientated and transdisciplinary
approaches. This chapter explores the transdisciplinary approach with sustainability
lenses and highlights the...
Introduction
Currently the desire to maintain a sustained economic growth as a way to an alleged welfare state leads to constantly develop and manufacture new products and consumer services that would maintain and create new jobs.
Engineers as part involved in technology development are the instrument that facilitates this situation and, with it, t...
Sustainability issues are widely recognized as wicked problems, which should not be considered as problems to be solved, but as conditions to be governed. There is a general agreement on the need to reform scientific expertise as it is required to deal with sustainability challenges, by developing new ways of knowledge production and decision-makin...
Strategic thinking and Planning for Sustainability in Higher Education Institutions is crucial to assure sustainability education. This paper explores the potential of applying the backcasting methodology to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Sustainability Education strategies at universities. Backcasting can be defined as “generating a d...
One of the greatest challenges to our society is climate change. Due to changes in weather patterns, temperature or rainfall, agriculture is one of the sectors most likely to be affected as mentioned in the last report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
In viticulture, the situation does not change. The vineyard grows in a ver...
Engineering has a key role for Sustainable development. It must be assured that future engineering graduates acquired the required sustainability competences that are needed to play such a key role. This paper, first analyses the role that Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology can play in training engineers in sustainability competences and final...
The introduction of sustainability competences in the new engineering curriculums at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya has created the need to establish methodologies for its evaluation. So far it has not been designed a strategy for solving this need. The proposal presented here is to establish the relationship between learning outcomes der...
The International Seminar on Sustainable Technology Innovation is a course offered in the framework of the master of Sustainability of the UPC-Barcelona Tech University and financed by the ERASMUS Intensive Program scheme. It introduces backcasting scenarios methodology in real sustainability problems. The learning environment is international, tra...
Introduction: In September 2002 the Conference of Rectors of Spanish universities (CRUE) created a working group which in 2009 became the Sectorial Commission for environmental quality, sustainable development and the prevention of risks in universities (CADEP) which adopted the document "Guidelines for the introduction of sustainability into the C...
Sustainability issues are widely recognized as wicked problems, which should not be considered as
problems to be solved, but as conditions to be governed. There is a general agreement on the need to
reform scientific expertise as it is required to deal with sustainability challenges, by developing new
ways of knowledge production and decision-ma...
Purpose
– This paper aims at identifying factors that could contribute to the motivation of students in sustainable development (SD) education. The underlying idea of the paper is that SD education is not always as attractive among students and lecturers as many would like it to be.
Design/methodology/approach
– The paper briefly reviews literatur...
The EPS was not an original idea. It was first developed in Denmark at the Copenhagen University of Engineering in the Industrial Design field. The main reason why we choose to implement the programme at UPC is that it was a new international programme adapted to the European Higher Education Area which was just being implemented in Spain at that t...
La sociedad tal como está organizada actualmente no tiene futuro, es insostenible; tanto ambiental, social, como económicamente. Estamos en una situación con un gran incremento de demandas al ecosistema y una disminución de recursos disponibles que conlleva a la aparición de conflictos sociales. Esto es debido a un paradigma económico neoliberal qu...
This chapter presents an overview of positive motivators for students,
lecturers, and educational managers to prioritize Sustainable Development in
education. Very often, we implicitly assume that students and colleagues should all
be motivated by the great challenges that the world faces. And if they appear not to
react sufficiently to these chall...
This paper reflects on experiences of integrating sustainability in engineering education in Ukraine and discusses the personal contribution of Prof. Leo Jansen to this process. The authors argue that Ukrainian engineering universities are progressing in incorporating sustainability in their curricula. Major efforts are still needed to shift the fo...
Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to analyse the process of changing engineering universities towards sustainable development (SD). It outlines the types of changes needed, both in respect of approaches, visions, philosophies and cultural change, which are crucial for engineering universities which want to implement sustainable development as...
Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to study how experts on teaching sustainability in engineering education contextualize sustainability; also to evaluate the understanding of sustainability by engineering students. The final aim is to evaluate what pedagogy experts believe provides better opportunities for learning about sustainability in engi...
Considering that higher education should play a vital role in promoting peace, mutual understanding and tolerance, and in creating mutual confidence among peoples and nations; (Lisbon Convention 1997) the Technological Catalonian Universities have undertaken as a framework the Competences for Sustainability, to develop the new degrees in accordance...
The introduction of sustainable development (SD) courses into engineering education has been a key goal for many technological universities, accreditation agencies and national and international university networks. This paper presents the results of a 5-year research project that analysed how SD competences were introduced into technological unive...
In the past decade, several engineering universities, mainly in Europe, but also in Australia, North America, and Japan, have been addressing the issue of sustainable development. Engineering education in sustainable development has been discussed at many occasions. What questions have been addressed, what answers have been provided, and what are t...
http://www.tdx.cat/bitstream/handle/10803/5926/TJSC.pdf?sequence=1
Introducing sustainable development (SD) in engineering education has been a key topic in many technological universities (1), accreditation agencies and International and National networks of universities. At the UNESCO chair of Sustainability of the Technical University of Catalonia (UPC) under their PhD program on Sustainability the authors have...
In a period of harmonisation of the higher education system in Europe, a question is if also learning about sustainability at the universities is converging and what advantages this may have. This paper is an effort to present and advance the work on describing desired sustainability competences for engineering Bachelor graduates in three technical...
In the 1990s, courses on sustainable development (SD) were introduced in technological universities. After some years of practice, there is increased interest in the evaluation of the most effective ways for teaching SD. This paper introduces the use of conceptual maps as a tool to measure the knowledge acquired by students when taking a Sustainabi...
In this paper, three universities compare their work on the integration of sustainable development into their educational programmes. The purpose is to show examples of how this can be done and to illustrate important generalised success factors. Methods used to achieve embedding of sustainability in curricula through individual interaction with te...
Cada vegada més, el compromís de les institucions d’educació superior cap a la formació d’un desenvolupament sostenible queda reflectit en els requisits relacionats amb la sostenibilitat, que cada cop estan imposant amb més quantia les agències d’acreditació a les titulacions de caire tecnològic. L’aplicació de varies tècniques didàctiques en un ma...
Since the nineties, technical universities offer courses on Sustainable Development. As Sustainability is a holistic concept related to values and skills, the way to measure the students learning has always been difficult.
Aquesta ponència presenta el disseny d’una proposta oferta a totes les escoles i facultats de la UPC per impartir una assignatura obligatòria sobre sostenibilitat a les titulacions de grau, d’acord amb els objectius del Pla UPC Sostenible 2015 i dins de l’EEES. La nostra voluntat no és fer una proposta uniformadora, sinó presentar uns objectius que...
Presentació sobre la realització de l'assignatura ALE “Medi ambient i tecnologia. Educació ambiental a l’enginyeria”, dissenyada per la Càtedra Unesco de Sostenibilitat de la UPC. Actualment aquesta assignatura es denomina “Tecnologia i Sostenibilitat”. Peer reviewed
Presentació d'aquest paquet formatiu d'actuació transversal dins de l’àmbit de les enginyeries tècniques que implicarà la millora dels estudis ofertats a l’EPSEVG. Peer reviewed
Les universitats tenen la responsabilitat d’impartir la visió moral i el coneixement tècnic necessari per assegurar la qualitat de vida per a les futures generacions, essent el desenvolupament sostenible l’actual context en el qual l’educació superior ha de localitzar la seva missió. Si cerquem una formació envers el desenvolupament sostenible s’ha...
El desenvolupament sostenible (DS) és un procés en què s’han d’involucrar tots els actors de la nostra societat per aconseguir la fita d’un món sostenible. Les persones que treballen en l’enginyeria, que són una de les parts interessades d’aquest camí cap al DS, hi han de jugar un paper clau. Aquest article analitza la funció de l’educació superior...
Projects
Projects (4)
Challenge Driven Education (CDE) has been promoted since 2015 in the InnoEnergy programme, to be adapted by each Master Programme with high flexibility of how this is designed in the 7 programs.
In our research we look at the variations, drivers and barriers of implementations so far as well as how well or in which ways the CDE relates to teaching and learning in Sustainable development.
The research team is a great mix of people from KTH, Stockholm and UPC, Barcelona.
The project was designed to establish system for training of public authorities aimed at improving level of environmental expertise, facilitating good governance and sustainable infrastructure development in Western Balkan countries.