EPS eLibrary: EDUCATING FOR A CIRCULAR FUTURE: DIGITAL INNOVATIONS, INTERDISCIPLINARY LEARNING, AND GLOBAL POLICY INSIGHTS IN INDUSTRIAL SYMBIOSIS

Peer-reviewed articles 17,970 +

Proceedings Cover

Title: EDUCATING FOR A CIRCULAR FUTURE: DIGITAL INNOVATIONS, INTERDISCIPLINARY LEARNING, AND GLOBAL POLICY INSIGHTS IN INDUSTRIAL SYMBIOSIS

Year

2025

BibTex Views:

295

Peer Reviewed

Open this article in the author's DB

<< Back to list

Title

EDUCATING FOR A CIRCULAR FUTURE: DIGITAL INNOVATIONS, INTERDISCIPLINARY LEARNING, AND GLOBAL POLICY INSIGHTS IN INDUSTRIAL SYMBIOSIS

PlumX Article Metrics by Elsevier

Authors

Natalija Cudecka-Purina

DOI

10.5593/sgem2025/4.1/s17.24

DOI Issue

10.5593/sgem2025/4.1

ISSN

1314-2704

ISBN

978-619-7603-83-5

Language

English

Volume

Issue

4.1

Editor

• Prof. Dr. hab. oec. Baiba Rivza, LATVIA• Prof. DSc. Ildiko Tulbure, GERMANY• Prof. DSc. Oleksandr Trofymchuk, UKRAINE

Scientific Area

Recycling, Waste Management, and Circular Economy

Abstract/ Foreword

Adapting to a Circular Economy (CE) within the context of ongoing digital transformation calls for a significant rethinking of educational models. Future professionals must be prepared with technical knowledge and the ability to think in systems and adapt to emerging digital environments. This research tends to analyse how different digital tools (i.e., digital platforms, blockchain, digital twins, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence) can be effectively integrated into educational practices supporting industrial symbiosis (IS) development. Beyond improving operational workflows and resource exchange, these technologies also serve as pedagogical tools that can deepen learners’ understanding of complex sustainability issues. Despite their potential, various challenges hinder widespread adoption. These include the technical intricacies of digital tools, issues of standardisation and compatibility, and broader concerns about infrastructure and social acceptance. As such, the research highlights the importance of embedding digital competence, interdisciplinary learning, and hands-on educational strategies into higher and vocational training. In addition, the study examines global legislative achievements, comparing policy frameworks across the European Union, Canada, the Southern Americas, China, and Vietnam. This comparison reveals how regulatory and institutional cooperation and best practice assessment can drive the adoption of CE and IS principles at scale. Spatial planning and legislative incentives enable such developments and cannot be neglected. The research proposes an integrated educational and policy model to promote a more inclusive, coordinated, and effective shift toward a circular and digitally enabled economy.

References (click to open)

[1] Cudecka-Purina N. Legal Barriers and Policy Gaps in Industrial Symbiosis: a Pathway to Regulatory Innovation. Environment. Technology. Resources. Proceedings of the 16th International Scientific and Practical Conference, 2025, 149-156, ISSN 2256-070X, DOI: https://doi.org/10.17770/etr2025vol1.8663
[2] Kirchherr, J., Reike, D., Hekkert, M. Conceptualizing the circular economy: An analysis of 114 definitions, Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Volume 127, 2017, Pages 221-232, ISSN 0921-3449, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.09.005
[3] Geissdoerfer, M., Savaget, P., Bocken, N.M.P., Hultink, E.J. The Circular Economy – A new sustainability paradigm?, Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 143, 2017, Pages 757-768, ISSN 0959-6526, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.12.048
[4] OECD (2021), OECD Digital Education Outlook 2021: Pushing the Frontiers with Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain and Robots, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/589b283f-en.
[5] McCarthy, A.M., Maor, D., McConney, A., Cavanaugh, C. Digital transformation in education: Critical components for leaders of system change, Social Sciences & Humanities Open, Volume 8, Issue 1, 2023, 100479, ISSN 2590-2911, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2023.100479
[6] Henriksen, D., Creely, E., Henderson M. Folk pedagogies for teacher transitions: Approaches to synchronous online learning in the wake of COVID-19. Journal of Technology and Teacher Education, 28 (2) (2020), pp. 201-209
[7] Global Education Monitoring Report. Re-Building resilient education systems: Three lessons on the privatisation of education and one solution emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic (2020) https://gemreportunesco.wordpress.com/2020/10/02/re-building-resilient-education-systems-two-lessons-on-the-privatisation-of-education-and-one-solution-emerging-from-the-covid-19-pandemic/
[8] Rienties, B., Ullmann, T., Tessarolo, F., Kwarteng, J., Domingue, J., Coughlan, T., Coughlan, E., & Bektik, D. Developing an Institutional AI Digital Assistant in an Age of Industry 5.0. Applied Sciences, 15(12), (2025), 6640. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15126640
[9] Bond, M., Khosravi, H., De Laat, M., Bergdahl, N., Negrea, V., Oxley, E., Pham, P., Chong, S.W., Siemens, G. A meta systematic review of artificial intelligence in higher education: A call for increased ethics, collaboration, and rigour. Int. J. Educ. Technol. High. Educ. 2024, 21, 4.
[10] European Commission. (2021). Digital Education Action Plan 2021–2027. EUR-Lex - 52020SC0209 - EN - EUR-Lex
[11] European Commission. (2020). Circular Economy Action Plan. EUR-Lex - 52020DC0098 - EN - EUR-Lex
[12] Reike, D., Vermeulen, W., Witjes, S. Conceptualization of Circular Economy 3.0: Synthesizing the 10R Hierarchy of Value Retention Options. (2022) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-94293-9_3
[13] Schröder, P., Albaladejo, M., Ribas, A., Macewen, M., Tilkanen, J. The Circular Economy in Latin America and the Caribbean: Opportunities for Building Resilience. (2020). https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.13883.13603
[14] McDowall, W., Geng, Y., Huang, B., Barteková, E., Bleischwitz, R., Türkeli, S., Kemp, R. and Doménech, T. Circular Economy Policies in China and Europe. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 21(2017): 651-661. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12597
[15] Tran, C.C., Nguyen, G.T.H. The Road to Circular Economy in Vietnam: The Policy Review of Vietnam Green Growth Strategy. In: Nguyen, A.T., Pham, T.T., Song, J., Lin, YL., Dong, M.C. (eds) Contemporary Economic Issues in Asian Countries: Proceeding of CEIAC 2022, Volume 2. CEIAC 2022. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-0490-7_16
[16] Chang, C. H., & Kidman, G. (2025). Interdisciplinary learning and pedagogical content knowledge in sustainability education – implications for STEAM education. International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education, 34(2), 95–99. https://doi.org/10.1080/10382046.2025.2476805
[17] UNESCO. (2020). Education for Sustainable Development: A roadmap. https://doi.org/10.54675/YFRE1448
[18] Leal Filho, W., Shiel, C., Paço, A., Mifsud, M., Veiga Ávila, L., Londero Brandli, L., Molthan-Hill, P., Pace, P., Azeiteiro, U.M., Ruiz Vargas, V., Caeiro, S. Sustainable Development Goals and sustainability teaching at universities: Falling behind or getting ahead of the pack?, Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 232, 2019, Pages 285-294, ISSN 0959-6526, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.05.309

Acknowledgements (click to open)

The research is financed by the Recovery and Resilience Facility project "Internal and External Consolidation of the University of Latvia" (No.5.2.1.1.i.0/2/24/I/CFLA/007)., LU-BA-ZG_2024/1-0008.

Type

conference

Url

https://doi.org/10.5593/sgem2025/4.1/s17.24

Full manuscript

Download PDF

EDUCATING FOR A CIRCULAR FUTURE: DIGITAL INNOVATIONS, INTERDISCIPLINARY LEARNING, AND GLOBAL POLICY INSIGHTS IN INDUSTRIAL SYMBIOSIS

Proceedings Тitle

Proceedings of 25th International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference SGEM 2025, Volume 25, Issue 4.1

Note

25th International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference SGEM 2025, Volume 25, Issue 4.1, 29 June - 6 July, 2025

Type

Proceedings Paper

Publisher

STEF92 Technology

Series

International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference Surveying Geology and Mining Ecology Management, SGEM

Organization

SWS Scholarly Society; Acad Sci Czech Republ; Latvian Acad Sci; Polish Acad Sci; Russian Acad Sci; Serbian Acad Sci and Arts; Natl Acad Sci Ukraine; Natl Acad Sci Armenia; Sci Council Japan; European Acad Sci, Arts and Letters; Acad Fine Arts Zagreb Croatia; Croatian Acad Sci and Arts; Acad Sci Moldova; Montenegrin Acad Sci and Arts; Georgian Acad Sci; Acad Fine Arts and Design Bratislava; Russian Acad Arts; Turkish Acad Sci.

Pages

183-190

Date

29 June - 6 July, 2025

Online Source Type

website

Digital Source Type

10420

Keywords

circular economy, digitalization, industrial symbiosis, artificial intelligence, interdisciplinary education