Research Study: Mapping the Circular Economy Landscape Among Higher Education Institutions in the Philippines
Objectives:
- Better understand what HEIs are currently doing with regards to circular economy education
- Gain insight on what HEIs want it to be like and the barriers they are facing or foresee
- Analyse if there is a demand among HEIs to formalise circular economy education in their institutions
- Consolidate the findings in a knowledge product to make the research available to relevant stakeholders
Project Duration: July 2024 – February 2025
Designed For: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Role: Consultant, 3RproMar project (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle to Protect the Marine Environment and Coral Reefs)
Overview: This research study mapped out the current landscape of circular economy education among higher education institutions (HEIs) in the Philippines. The focus areas of the study were the Western Visayas and National Capital Region. Two focus group discussions (FGDs) were organised to bring relevant stakeholders together to share their experiences and insights about circular economy education in their institutions. An additional stakeholder engagement workshop was organised after the FGDs.
The following questions were used to guide the research: To what extent is circular economy education integrated into the curriculums of HEIs in the Philippines? Is there demand among HEIs to formalise circular economy education?
Given the resource constraints for the study, specific areas in the Philippines were chosen to conduct research activities. Two regions were selected based on awareness about their current and proposed circular economy-related initiatives. The Western Visayas (Region VI) and the National Capital Region (NCR) were identified as having HEIs that are interested in or currently have circular economy-related initiatives to some degree. While the study did not cover all regions of the Philippines, it is a starting point from which to gain insights about the landscape of circular economy education among HEIs in the country.
In August 2024 two FGDs were conducted, one in the Western Visayas and the other in the NCR. These FGDs served as a platform for the HEIs and other key stakeholders to share experiences and insights about circular economy education in their institutions.
I designed the FDGs as full-day sessions, split into three parts: (1) The first part focused on baselining the current state of circular economy education in HEIs. (2) Next was defining what HEIs want with regard to circular economy education in their institutions. (3) Lastly, attendees participated in a futures thinking exercise to backcast a future scenario of circular economy education in HEIs.
The purpose of the workshop was to provide a summary of the results from the FGDs and to gather feedback and responses from the HEI representatives on the plausibility of creating a roadmap for formalising circular economy content in their curricula.
I designed the workshop as a half-day session, split into four parts: (1) Summary of results from FGDs, (2) Presentation of potential pathways forward, (3) Sharing of circular economy initiatives of select HEIs, and (4) Discussion and brainstorming of next steps for formalising circular economy content in HEI curricula.
The workshop was conducted in November 2024 as part of the Circular Connect Conference organised by the 3RproMar team in the Philippines. Since the conference was held in Bacolod City, only representatives from the Western Visayas attended.
As the environmental, social, and economic effects are increasingly felt across the Philippines, efforts are being taken to address these challenges in a more systemic way. What has garnered interest is the potential of circular economic models. On the national, regional and international level there are frameworks and strategies for circular transitions that state the importance of education, awareness raising and capacity building. In order to accelerate the transition to a circular economy, academia and youth are important stakeholders to engage.
With that in mind, GIZ’s 3RproMar project and Circular Cities Asia (CCA) organised the Circular Connect Competition in 2023. The aim of this circular innovation competition was to provide a platform for youth to develop circular economy-focused solutions that help tackle local plastic waste and marine litter challenges. The competition focused on one particular region in the Philippines, the Western Visayas (Region VI). High levels of engagement from students and higher education institution (HEI) representatives across the region were observed, which raised questions about their interest in such opportunities and what, if any, circular economy-related content and initiatives exist at the HEI level.
This gap in understanding was a key driver for this research study to map out the current landscape of circular economy education among HEIs in the Philippines.