The paper entitled ”Career development pathways for environmental engineering students” investigates the ways in which young specialists can be supported to build relevant and sustainable careers in a global context dominated by the green transition and the new demands of the circular economy. At a time when European and international policies emphasize reducing environmental impact, efficient use of resources and the implementation of green technologies, the field of environmental engineering becomes essential for achieving sustainable development goals. The main purpose of the research is to identify the directions of professional evolution for graduates of university programs in the field, in correlation with the increasingly complex demands of the labor market and the dynamics of technological innovation. The proposed analysis is based on an integrated approach, which combines the educational perspective with the economic and technological one. Career opportunities are highlighted in areas such as waste management, pollution control, renewable energy, resource efficiency and ecological systems design. The research results show that, in addition to technical and scientific skills, future environmental engineers need to develop transversal skills – critical thinking, digital skills, entrepreneurship, interdisciplinary communication and innovation capacity. The conclusions of the paper emphasize the need to strengthen partnerships between universities, the economic environment and public institutions to create flexible professional paths, relevant internship programs and lifelong learning mechanisms. These elements are fundamental for preparing young engineers to face the new challenges of the green economy and for their active integration into a sustainable and innovation-oriented society.

skills, challenges, opportunities, evolution, professional training

environmental engineering

Presentation: poster