Open Access Peer-reviewed Research Article

Capacity Building for Sustainability and Circular Economy: Identifying Educational Barriers and Opportunities in Asia

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Submitted   Oct 20, 2025
Published   Jan 14, 2026
Issue    Vol 6 No 1 (2026)
DOI   10.25082/AMLER.2026.01.006

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Michail Kalogiannakis corresponding author
Department of Special Education, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece
Alkinoos Zourmpakis
Department of Special Education, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece
Kafenia Βotsoglou
Department of Special Education, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece
Óscar Rodil-Marzábal
Department of Applied Economics, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Hugo Campos-Romero
Department of Applied Economics, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Abstract

The transition from a linear to a circular economy (CE) is a pressing imperative for Southeast Asia, a region facing rapid industrialization and environmental risks. This study, part of the CEBCAT project, examines the current state of higher education in Indonesia, Laos, and Vietnam with respect to CE and sustainability. The purpose was to identify existing knowledge and ability gaps and instructional problems, thereby informing the development of a master's curriculum in CE and sustainability. Using a mixed-methods approach across six partner universities in Asia, data were collected from 103 individuals, including students, academic staff, and industry professionals. The findings reveal that, although there is a foundational awareness of sustainability, a deep conceptual understanding of the circular economy is limited. Critical skill gaps were identified in practical application, environmental impact assessment, and digital literacy, and a strong preference for experiential learning over purely theoretical or online instruction. However, the study highlights significant institutional barriers, including limited funding, outdated resources, and heavy faculty workloads. Effective CE capacity building requires a shift toward interdisciplinary, practice-based curricula supported by robust industry partnerships and institutional investment.

Keywords
circular economy, higher education, Southeast Asia, capacity building, curriculum development, online instruction

Article Details

Author Biography

Michail Kalogiannakis, Department of Special Education, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece

Michail Kalogiannakis is a Professor of the Department of Special Education at the University of Thessaly in Greece and an Associate Tutor at the School of Humanities at the Hellenic Open University. He graduated from the Physics Department of the University of Crete and continued his post-graduate studies at the University Paris 7-Denis Diderot (D.E.A. in Didactic of Physics), University Paris 5-René Descartes-Sorbonne (D.E.A. in Science Education) and received his PhD degree at the University Paris 5-René Descartes-Sorbonne (PhD in Science Education). His research interests include: the use of digital technologies in science education (e.g. gamification, mobile learning, etc.), assessment of learning in STEM, and artificial intelligence in science teaching. He has published over 150 articles in international conferences and journals and has served on the program committees of numerous international conferences.

ORCID: 0000-0002-9124-2245

Scopus Author ID: 8533759300

Web of Science Researcher ID: A-1480-2014

Supporting Agencies
This work was supported by the European Union's Erasmus programme under Grant Agreement ERASMUS-EDU-2024-CBHE-101179061-1. The views expressed are solely those of the authors. (CEBCAT project)
How to Cite
Kalogiannakis, M., Zourmpakis, A., ΒotsoglouK., Rodil-Marzábal, Óscar, Campos-Romero, H., Paraskevopoulos, M., Stamataki, C., Manika, K., Mahavong, A., Chanthavong, I., Kousonsavath, C., Boulom, S., Anh Nguyen, T. T., Nguyen, D. T., Thuy Chung, N., Huu Nhuan, N., Thanh Loan, L. T., Antofie, M.-M., Stefenel, D., Anggraini, E., Kurniawati Hidayat, N., Suryanto, S., Setyowibowo, F., & Muhammad, D. R. A. (2026). Capacity Building for Sustainability and Circular Economy: Identifying Educational Barriers and Opportunities in Asia. Advances in Mobile Learning Educational Research, 6(1), 1719-1729. https://doi.org/10.25082/AMLER.2026.01.006
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

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