Education for SDGs: specific courses on sustainability
Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) offers an extensive portfolio of dedicated sustainability and SDG-focused programs across engineering, design, life sciences, and humanities. Specialized postgraduate programs such as M.Tech Environmental Engineering , M.Tech Thermal Sciences and Energy Systems , and M.Des (Sustainable Design) integrate sustainability science with technology and policy applications. For instance, the M.Tech Environmental Engineering program includes pollution control, waste management, and environmental safety modules, offering laboratory-based learning with ICP-MS, AAS, and HPLC instruments. The M.Des (Sustainable Design) course at the Manipal School of Architecture and Planning (MSAP) features modules in Green Buildings, Net-Zero Energy Design, and Energy Economics, preparing students for green infrastructure careers ( M.Des Sustainable Design Program Details ).
Sustainability is also embedded within discipline-specific courses across MAHE’s technical and social science streams. Programs such as B.Tech Civil, Mechanical, and Electrical Engineering include modules in Environmental Studies, Renewable Energy, Energy Auditing, Waste Water Management, and Green Energy Technology, promoting SDGs 7 (Clean Energy) and 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) (M.Tech Energy Systems and Management Overview). The B.Arch and B.Des programs feature courses like Smart Cities, Eco-friendly Interiors, and Urbanism and Sustainability, aligning with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). In the life sciences, M.Sc Food Science and Safety and M.Sc Nutrition and Dietetics address sustainable food systems and public health nutrition consistent with SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), while B.Sc Biotechnology incorporates Plant Biotechnology, Environmental Science, and Nanobiotechnology. Within liberal arts, the Manipal Institute of Liberal Arts offers courses such as Development and Sustainability, Public Policy and the SDGs, and Environmental Humanities, building ethical literacy and civic engagement.
MAHE’s curriculum further broadens access to sustainability learning through open electives—including Computational Intelligence and Environmental Sustainability (ECE 4308), Energy Auditing (ELE 4301), and Introduction to Alternate Fuels and Applications (MME 4304)—that teach real-world applications of AI, renewable energy, and lifecycle assessment. Over 400 programs across the university are explicitly mapped to specific SDGs, from M.Plan in Urban Design Sustainability and Conservation ( Program Overview ) to M.Des in Earth Education and Communication . These programs integrate fieldwork, data analysis, and collaborative projects with industry and NGOs, preparing graduates to design and implement sustainable solutions worldwide. By embedding sustainability into every faculty, MAHE establishes a model of systemic, interdisciplinary, and globally relevant sustainability education, advancing both SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).