Establishing a comprehensive continuous quality improvement framework for evaluating learning outcomes in sustainability management education

Incorporating sustainability principles into engineering education is vital for preparing graduates to address intricate environmental, social, and economic issues. This paper evaluates the "Sustainable Management" course within a Master of Civil Engineering program at a Malaysian public university, employing a mixed-methods approach informed by Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI). Quantitative data from raw score marks and ten semesters of Continuous Quality Improvement reports were corroborated with qualitative insights from Student Feedback Online (SuFO). Results demonstrated consistently robust performance in communication, professionalism, and collaboration. Nonetheless, lifelong learning and problem-solving competencies exhibited considerable heterogeneity and intermittent deterioration. These developments indicate the necessity for specific curriculum interventions. A Continuous Quality Improvement framework is established that integrates worldwide certification standards and stakeholder expectations via iterative feedback loops, data-driven analytics, and stakeholder involvement. This also contributed to the coherence of curriculum design, sustainability competencies, and industry requirements. This paper presents an evidence-based, adaptable model for Continuous Quality Improvement designed to enhance sustainability courses and equip civil engineers for a swiftly evolving professional landscape.