Addressing the grand societal challenges of our time requires a profound transformation of engineering education. This paper introduces Engineering Education 5.0, a future-oriented framework that integrates sustainability, digitalization, and human-centered values. In parallel, Community-Engaged Learning (CEL) is presented as a transdisciplinary pedagogical approach fostering experiential, participatory, and socially responsible learning. Together, these paradigms aim to close the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application. Two case studies—the SAFE Living Lab and MOSA—implemented at Montanuniversität Leoben, demonstrate how CEL can enhance the development of key competences among learners and contribute to sustainable innovation. The initiatives exemplify how Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) can serve as catalysts for societal transformation through collaboration with industry, policy, and the public. The paper concludes by advocating for structural reforms in engineering education to embed participatory, inclusive, and action-oriented learning strategies that prepare engineers for the complex demands of the digital and green transition.
Obenaus-Emler et al. (Thu,) studied this question.