Strengthening Capacity of Higher Engineering Education for Sustainable Buildings | HEESeB

Project Coordinator: Tshewang Lhendup

Coordinating Institution: Jigme Namgyel Engineering College (JNEC), Royal University of Bhutan

Partner Institution: University of Innsbruck (UIBK), Austria

Partner country: Bhutan

Project Duration: 1^st February 2023 – 31^st January 2026

The project ‘Strengthening capacity of Higher Engineering Education for Sustainable Buildings’ abbreviated as HEESeB is an academic collaboration between the Jigme Namgyel Engineering College (JNEC), the Royal University of Bhutan and the University of Innsbruck. This collaboration aims to promote sustainable and resilient buildings in Bhutan, through extensive research and collaboration. The academic partnership will formulate a certificate programme in Timber Engineering for Energy Efficient Buildings (TEEEB) at JNEC, aiming to generate qualified manpower for sustainable and resilient infrastructure planning, design, construction and maintenance of timber structures. It will also lead to synergy of emerging technologies with natural building materials and age-old traditional practices through the transfer of knowledge and skills. Furthermore, this academic collaboration will be vital for professional development, addressing socio-economic and environmental challenges and harnessing niche opportunities in the field of sustainable development.

 

Project goals

1. Diversify academic programmes

• Develop a new academic programme on timber engineering for energy efficient buildings,
• Develop two new courses related to gender, equity and diversity sensitive science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM); building modelling and simulation, and HVAC

2. Improve teaching support services at JNEC

• Provide short-term courses on gender, equality and STEM in collaboration with UIBK
• Professional development in the operation and management of timber engineering laboratory equipment.

3. Sharing knowledge and experience to enhance the teaching and research capacity of JNEC through staff and student exchange

A cluster of timber structure buildings in Bhutan. Most of the structures are more than 20 years old. These buildings are vulnerable to earthquakes and natural disasters and are not energy efficient. HEESeB will assess the need for timber engineering and identify the types of specialisation courses and trainings required for engineers to construct sustainable buildings using timber, which is abundant in the country.