Engineering geology education in Taiwan, Japan, and Korea: Current status, challenges, and actions
Journal
Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment
Journal Volume
84
Journal Issue
11
ISSN
1435-9529
1435-9537
Date Issued
2025-10-18
Author(s)
Abstract
Engineering geology, serving as a critical interface between geosciences and engineering disciplines, plays a pivotal role in shaping the safety, resilience, and sustainability of infrastructure. In Taiwan, Japan, and Korea, engineering geology education has historically been embedded within civil (mining) engineering curricula, dating back to the mid-20th century. Nowadays, engineering geology education is facing severe challenges, including overspecialization and a decline in manpower, especial under the climate change regime and the urgent need to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Close collaboration between civil (mining) engineering and geology/geosciences departments to provide joint courses using project-based learning, together with the input from industry, is suggested. Through designing multidisciplinary and usage-based courses, students can develop interdisciplinary ability and move toward transdisciplinary practice. Raising public awareness through outreach, using new technologies to reduce dependence on manpower, promoting lifelong learning and international cooperation, especially making good use of the platform of IAEG, are also suggested. These proposed actions aim to improve the quality of engineering geology education, focus more on putting learning into practice, and ultimately reduce risks and enhance the safety and efficiency of engineering projects.
Subjects
Education
Engineering geological model
Engineering geology
Engineering project
Interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary
Project-based learning
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Type
journal article