The project aimed to achieve a comprehensive transformation in the construction industry and higher education by equipping students, educators, and practitioners with the knowledge and skills needed for sustainable and digital construction practices. Its primary objective was to align the construction sector with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by integrating green skills, digital tools, and sustainability-focused education into construction engineering programs. Through the project, we developed and implemented a 5 ECTS hybrid course that provided interdisciplinary and international knowledge, enabling students to understand how construction projects could support the achievement of the SDGs, particularly in areas such as clean energy, sustainable cities, responsible consumption, and climate action. Additionally, the project created a strategic design framework to enhance the integration of SDGs into construction projects and assess the industry's needs, ensuring that education is aligned with labour market demands. We produced a digital handbook offering practical guidelines for implementing SDGs in construction projects. This resource supported practitioners, students, and educators.
The SUSTAINABUILD project aimed to address critical challenges in the construction industry and higher education by aligning with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the EU Green Deal. It seeked to tackle environmental issues, skill gaps, and outdated educational approaches to foster a sustainable transformation in the sector. The construction industry significantly contributes to environmental degradation, accounting for 40% of global energy use, one-third of greenhouse gas emissions, and generating extensive waste streams. In response, the project focuses on embedding sustainability into construction practices and education, contributing directly to key SDGs, including SDG 11 (sustainable cities), SDG 7 (clean energy), SDG 12 (responsible consumption), and SDG 13 (climate action). Green and digital transitions require new interdisciplinary skills to integrate sustainable practices and digital tools into construction projects. The project addressed this demand by equipping students, educators, and practitioners with the competencies to meet labour market needs and sustainability challenges. It emphasized modernizing higher education through innovative teaching strategies, including developing a 5 ECTS hybrid course.