The Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering developed and implemented a  comprehensive Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) action plan to instill a sense of responsibility among students and guide them in addressing societal and global challenges through, quality education, gender equality and  academic innovation. Recognizing the importance of the United Nations SDGs, the department has embedded sustainability as a core value within its academic and innovation frameworks.

This action plan is designed to ensure that students are aware of 17 UN SDGs global sustainability challenges, Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering students are trained and encouraged to develop practical, innovative solutions that align with SDG 4, SDG 5 and SDG 9. Through field visits, induction programs, and project-based learning, students are exposed to real-life issues that enhance their understanding and foster solution-oriented thinking. The integration of this plan into the academic curriculum, supported by a credit-based evaluation system, empowers students to work meaningfully on community-relevant problems and convert them into sustainable, viable, and impactful solutions throughout their four-year academic journey.

The details of the courses and activities incorporating sustainability-oriented learning are as follows:

a) Project-Based Learning (PBL)

• Embedded in core subjects such as:
  • Analog & Digital Communication
  • Embedded Systems
  • Signal Processing
  • IoT and Wireless Networks
• Students identify real-world problems related to:
  • Energy efficiency
  • Assistive technologies
  • Smart monitoring systems
• SDG Mapping: SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure)

Table 1: Project-Based Learning Core Courses with Sustainability Integration

b) Problem-Based Learning

• Case studies on:
  • Low-power system design
  • Sustainable communication networks
  • Rural healthcare monitoring solutions
• Students analyze constraints (cost, scalability, sustainability, ethics).
• Encourages multidisciplinary thinking and lifecycle assessment.

Table 2: Problem- Based Learning Core Courses with Sustainability Integration

Mini Projects undertaken by students during the second and third years are designed to enhance their ability to identify and solve complex engineering problems through hands-on learning and practical implementation. These projects encourage students to apply the theoretical concepts learned in core courses to real-world engineering applications in areas such as embedded systems, robotics, communication systems, IoT, renewable energy, and signal processing. A sample of mini projects undertaken by II and III year students to address complex engineering problems, integrating modern engineering tools and aligned with relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), are presented below.

Table 3: Mini projects undertaken by II and III year students with relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Sample major (capstone) projects undertaken by final year students to address complex engineering problems are listed below. These projects demonstrate the application of advanced engineering concepts, modern tools, and innovative solutions to real-world societal challenges.

Table 4: Projects undertaken by final (IV) year students with relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

To promote innovation and problem-solving skills, the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering organized National Level Hackathons addressing Complex Engineering Problems (CEP). These problem statements involve multidisciplinary challenges in areas of Signal Processing, Embedded Systems and IoT, VLSI, Wireless communication considering constraints like sustainability, cost, scalability, and societal impact. The activities are aligned with relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and support the outcome-based learning.  The details are as follows:

Table 5: Real Time Problems undertaken by students with relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) during Hackathon