Publication
From Awareness To Action
| Summary: | The study explores how Malaysian higher education institutions incorporate the principles of the circular economy, SDG 12, and Society 5.0. A qualitative research design was used. Eleven in-depth interviews were conducted with faculty and administrators directly involved in sustainability initiatives. Findings suggest i that HEIs are increasingly incorporating concepts such as resource efficiency, waste reduction, and life-cycle thinking into selected courses and campus practices, although at an uneven rate. Key barriers include limited funding, outdated infrastructure, low awareness, and resistance to interdisciplinary teaching. Enablers include strong leadership commitment, external partnerships with industry and government, active student engagement, and growing f interest in experiential learning models like living labs. The study highlights the perceived role of Society 5.0 technologies, in particular, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and data analytics, in enhancing CE education through real-time monitoring of waste and energy systems, interactive simulations, and strengthened decision-making in sustainability projects. The findings are exploratory and reflect the perspectives of sustainability-engaged participants. The study contributes a context-specific understanding of how CE and SDG 12 are being incorporated unevenly within Malaysian HEIs and how Society 5.0-related technologies are perceived as supporting CE education, while outlining implications for curriculum integration, campus-based learning, and future research. |
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| Main Authors: | Shahidi Hamedani, Sharareh |
| Other Authors: | Aslam, Sarfraz; Mohamad, Shafi; Mansori, Shaheen; Hamedani, Shervin Shahidi |
| Subject: | Circular economy Experiential learning Higher education Society 5.0 technologies Stakeholder engagement Sustainable development goal 12 Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment General Environmental Science SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production |
| Year: | 2026 |
| Country: | Portugal |
| Document type: | article |
| Access type: | embargoed access |
| Associated institution: | Universidade Nova de Lisboa |
| Language: | English |
| Origin: | Repositório Institucional da UNL |
| Summary: | The study explores how Malaysian higher education institutions incorporate the principles of the circular economy, SDG 12, and Society 5.0. A qualitative research design was used. Eleven in-depth interviews were conducted with faculty and administrators directly involved in sustainability initiatives. Findings suggest i that HEIs are increasingly incorporating concepts such as resource efficiency, waste reduction, and life-cycle thinking into selected courses and campus practices, although at an uneven rate. Key barriers include limited funding, outdated infrastructure, low awareness, and resistance to interdisciplinary teaching. Enablers include strong leadership commitment, external partnerships with industry and government, active student engagement, and growing f interest in experiential learning models like living labs. The study highlights the perceived role of Society 5.0 technologies, in particular, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and data analytics, in enhancing CE education through real-time monitoring of waste and energy systems, interactive simulations, and strengthened decision-making in sustainability projects. The findings are exploratory and reflect the perspectives of sustainability-engaged participants. The study contributes a context-specific understanding of how CE and SDG 12 are being incorporated unevenly within Malaysian HEIs and how Society 5.0-related technologies are perceived as supporting CE education, while outlining implications for curriculum integration, campus-based learning, and future research. |
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