Trifold approach to circular economy: perspectives of academia, business and wider society
▶Summary
Despite of availability of learning content on the specifics of circular economy, there is still little space for student`s orientation, individual initiative and real touch with concrete problems and ways to address them. In this regard, the project addressed the following needs of the targeted students: - To receive enhanced but adapted explanation on the components, values, processes and loops of circular economy - To be supported by people knowing well the aspects and trends in economy influenced by environmental constraints in order to shape their needed capabilities when they join the labour market after finishing the study - To be taught in close-to-real business environment on some essential things that could be applied towards addressing challenges of circular economy - To be allowed to try practical actions towards addressing the needs of business by taking account on scarcity of natural resources and thus to be supported in unfolding their creativeness and innovation - To meet peers with similar challenges and to exchange experience in order to explore their strengths - To be equipped with a variety of examples which they could follow in order to solve situations which they could face after graduation
▶Objectives
The general objective was to present implications and to introduce solutions of circular economy challenges in an adapted way bringing together students from various social categories with focus on those who are discouraged and lagging behind their peers. The specific objectives were: -Exploring the components of circular economy from teachers’ perspective -Exploring the components of circular economy from students’ perspective -Exploring circular economy challenges to business and wider society
▶Impact
The project has the following results: - Development of Reference book on Circular Economy for teachers - 156 pages in volume in 5 languages - Development of Repertory on Circular Economy for students - 168 pages in volume in 5 languages - Development of Handbook on Circular Economy Challenges to business and society - 152 pages in volume in 5 languages - Creation of 3 interactive suport sets - each of them respectively with 144, 108 and 10 elements - Organization of 6 joint workshops - 148 people covered - Organization of 16 meetings with business experts involving 128 people - Organization of of 21 local dissemination events reaching 194 people - Organization of 2 joint final events having 104 participants