Future engineering competencies for a sustainable world: an integral framework for engineering education in the Industry 4.0 era

Purpose This paper aims to identify the skills that future engineers will need to face the challenges of the 21st-century. To achieve this, the converging needs of social, industrial and educational movements will be analyzed, to determine the skills and knowledge that these professionals must possess to contribute to a sustainable and equitable future, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the framework of Industry 4.0 (and Society 5.0) and the reflections coming from the International Conceive-Design-Implement-Operate movement. Design/methodology/approach The methodology is organized in two stages: (1) interactions between Industry 4.0 and the SDGs for the development of competencies through the collection of data from the literature review and the mapping and bibliometric study with the VOSviewer software, and (2) development of a framework of competencies necessary for future professionals in the context of Industry 4.0 and the SDGs. This research is based on a literature review in Web of Science from 2010 to 2023. A model is proposed that integrates the SDGs in the context of Industry 4.0 and competencies in the field of engineering. Findings Through a systematic bibliometric analysis, a comprehensive review of the scientific literature in the study area was carried out. Using data visualization techniques, such as VOSviewer, the dominant thematic trends and the most significant international collaborations were identified. The results obtained allowed to precisely delimit the field of research and establish conceptual connections between emerging themes. Likewise, a clear link is evident between the principles of Industry 4.0, the SDG and the professional skills required in the current context. In this sense, the study proposes a conceptual framework that integrates these elements, offering a guide for the curricular design and training of professionals capable of responding to the challenges of the world of work and contributing to the achievement of the SDGs. Practical implications The results of this research can serve as a basis for reformulating engineering degree curricula, incorporating the identified competencies into the curricula. On the other hand, companies can use this framework to identify the skills they should look for in future engineers and to design training and development programs for human talent. Furthermore, governments can use the findings to design educational and technological development policies that promote the training of engineers with the necessary competencies to face the challenges of the 21st-century. Originality/value The research provides new insights into the skills required for engineers of the future, considering the convergence of Industry 4.0 and the SDGs. The proposed framework offers a holistic view of the necessary skills, integrating different dimensions (technical, social, environmental). The results of the research have a direct impact on the training of professionals capable of contributing to sustainable and equitable development.