Building a resilient world: the contribution of architecture curricula to sustainable development

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Purpose The design of buildings and urban areas holds immense potential to shape sustainability, encompassing considerations of material usage, energy efficiency and environmental impacts throughout construction and life cycle. Architects play a pivotal role in this endeavour. In the evolving landscape of architectural education, there remains a significant gap in understanding the full scope of its potential and challenges. This study aims to explore the role of higher education institutions and explores the extent to which architecture curricula contribute to sustainable development. Design/methodology/approach The study used an online survey, designed around sustainability frameworks to assess how architecture curricula incorporate sustainability. It gathered 110 responses from 30 countries, with data analysed using non-parametric tests (Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U test) to examine country-level differences and barriers to integrating sustainability. Findings The findings reveal a prevalent consideration of sustainability in curricula, with a notable emphasis on environmental dimensions, closely followed by social and economic aspects. However, challenges persist, notably the lack of sustainability training for educators and limited time allocation for integrating sustainability components into educational programmes. Originality/value This study’s novelty lies in its comprehensive investigation into the emphasis placed on sustainability within architecture education. It offers original insights collected from diverse universities worldwide through the documentation of trends observed across 30 countries, providing valuable insights on the training landscape for architects and paving the way for informed strategies to enhance sustainability integration in architectural curricula and practice.