# Sustainability Competencies and Skills in Software Engineering: An Industry Perspective

**Authors:** Rogardt Heldal, Ngoc-Thanh Nguyen, Ana Moreira, Patricia Lago, Leticia Duboc, Stefanie Betz, Vlad C. Coroama, Birgit Penzenstadler, Jari Porras, Rafael Capilla, Ian Brooks, Shola Oyedeji, Colin C. Venters  
**arXiv:** [2305.00436](https://arxiv.org/abs/2305.00436)  
**Date:** 2023-04-30  
**Summary page:** https://www.summarizepaper.com/en/paper/2305.00436v1/

## Key points

- Achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires a high level of awareness and action to address sustainability challenges.
- Software systems play a significant role in supporting sustainable development.
- There is a lack of comprehensive research on the competencies and skills needed by IT professionals to develop sustainable software systems.
- Organizations are increasingly interested in sustainability for both idealistic reasons and core business purposes.
- Challenges faced include balancing short-term financial profitability with long-term sustainability objectives.
- Organizations have implemented various training initiatives to bridge competency gaps and integrate sustainability into software development.
- Educational programs should incorporate knowledge and skills related to core sustainability concepts, system thinking, soft skills, technical sustainability, impact measurement, values and ethics, standards and legal aspects, as well as advocacy and lobbying.

## Summary

Achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires a high level of awareness and action to address sustainability challenges. Software systems are crucial in advancing towards these targets, as they play a significant role in supporting sustainable development. However, there is a lack of comprehensive research on the competencies and skills needed by IT professionals to develop sustainable software systems. To address this gap, this study aimed to identify industrial sustainability needs for education and training from the perspective of software engineers. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with experts from twenty-eight organizations with an IT division across nine countries. The discussions focused on their interests, goals, achievements related to sustainability, as well as the skills and competencies required to achieve these goals. The findings revealed that organizations are increasingly interested in sustainability for both idealistic reasons and core business purposes. They strive to enhance the sustainability of processes and products but face challenges such as balancing short-term financial profitability with long-term sustainability objectives. To bridge these gaps, organizations have implemented in-house training courses, collaborated with universities, and provided external training opportunities for employees. The acquired competencies have made sustainability an integral part of software development within these organizations. As a result, it is recommended that educational programs incorporate knowledge and skills related to core sustainability concepts, system thinking, soft skills, technical sustainability, impact measurement, values and ethics, standards and legal aspects, as well as advocacy and lobbying. Overall,this study sheds light on the importance of integrating sustainability into software engineering education and training to meet the growing demand for sustainable IT solutions in today's digital landscape. By equipping IT professionals with the necessary competencies and skills we can pave the way for more environmentally conscious software development practices that contribute positively towards achieving global sustainability goals.