Circular economy, sustainability and teacher training in a higher education institution

Bibliographic Data

ID21720736
AuthorsAnxela Bugallo-Rodríguez (0000-0002-8059-7083, Universidade da Coruña), Pedro Vega-Marcote (0000-0002-5776-7419, Universidade da Coruña)
Year2020
Volume21
Issue7
Pages1351-1366
Publication date2020-08-28
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1467-6370 • E-ISSN: 1758-6739
PublisherEmerald (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1108/ijshe-02-2020-0049
OpenAlexW3082343695
LanguageEN
Citations received13
References cited22

Purpose Higher education institutions have a valuable dual role in disseminating the circular economy (CE) as a new sustainability paradigm. First, the university teaches students about this subject. Second, it prepares future teachers to incorporate sustainability into other educational levels. This paper aims to present the results of implementing a set of activities designed to improve the attitudes and actions of students to reduce their daily impact on campus and to be active agents for change to the CE. Design/methodology/approach The participants were students enrolled for the Degree in Primary Education at the University of Corunna. Following a qualitative approach, students’ proposals were analyzed using the key indicators identified by the European Commission to measure progress toward the CE. Findings The results demonstrate that these activities make students reflect and act on their daily impact. They propose and develop diverse solutions on campus, such as increased paper-, water- and energy-saving activities and discover the benefits of teaching for action. However, the indicators show that they do not apply the three principles of the CE in a balanced way. Research limitations/implications An improvement should analyze the same students in the following year to verify progress. Originality/value This experience with preservice teachers may help to extend the values and knowledge associated with integral sustainability and provide CE solutions on campus and in schools throughout the country

Economic growth · Economics · Higher education · Institution · Mathematics education · Medical education · Originality · Pedagogy · Political science · Public relations · Qualitative research · Social science · Sociology · Sustainability · Computer Science · Medicine · Psychology · Sustainability in Higher Education · Sustainable Building Design and Assessment · Sustainable Supply Chain Management · Ecology

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