Transition towards a circular economy: A review of the role of higher education as a key supporting stakeholder in Web of Science

Abstract

Governments and industries are coming to recognise the opportunities provided by the circular economy (CE) and making progress in the initiating of sustainable practices. However, they alone cannot drive the systemic changes needed to transform the current economic model. To this end, the role of higher education institutions (HEIs) is also critical, because they are expected not only to provide guidance to their stakeholders on this matter but also to support new visions for societies and economies beyond the lecture halls regarding the cultivation of a CE mentality and eco-responsible citizenship. The chief purpose of this article is to reflect upon the state-of-the-art and current contributions of HEIs worldwide as a driving force in the development, dissemination, and assessment of the CE. The revisited material consists of 77 articles collected through the Web of Science database. The papers in the sample have been evaluated and grouped into an integrated framework consisting of five analytical categories, following the five active roles played by HEIs as proposed by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF). The findings reveal that the transition to the CE requires challenges at all systemic levels, and HEIs are well placed to collaborate with industrial practitioners, consumers, and governments to address these challenges.