Teaching Sustainability Using 3D Printing in Engineering Education: An Observational Study

Abstract

One of the many features of three-dimensional printing (3DP) that contribute to its status as a cutting-edge technology is its positive impact on sustainability. Students in higher education can also use 3DP technologies to understand environmental, social, and economic issues. However, there is a lack of knowledge on how sustainability is integrated through 3DP in higher education, especially in developing countries. Thus, this research explored the teaching of sustainability through 3DP in five public engineering universities in Vietnam using field observations (75 students and five educators), followed by semi-structured interviews with ten students and five educators. The findings revealed that sustainability through 3DP was not taught as a separate unit in the participating institutions as they were not equipped with the necessary tools and software to educate students about sustainability through 3DP, the time spent teaching students about 3DP was limited, and most of the educators were not trained in implementing sustainability through 3DP in higher education. Despite these barriers, students were instructed on how to use 3DP materials economically and were taught which materials were beneficial for the environment. In cases of limited resources and funding, assisting students in assembling low-cost do-it-yourself 3D printers by utilizing open-source materials will maximize their learning outcomes. These findings may help higher education institutions teach sustainability through 3DP and motivate students to explore multidisciplinary knowledge in developing countries. This study also guides both higher education sectors and policymakers on taking the steps necessary for utilizing the benefits of 3DP in engineering education.