Perception of university students towards circular economy in Bangladesh

Abstract

The circular economy, a sustainable approach to production and consumption, has been gaining traction globally, yet remains underexplored within the educational sector, particularly in Bangladesh. This study aims to assess BRAC University students' perceptions of circular economy principles and evaluate university policies aligned with sustainability. The main argument of the study is that regardless of BRAC University's efforts to engage in circular economy practices, a significant gap appears in the level of awareness and involvement of its students. Through a quantitative survey of 307 students, the research analyzes their awareness and engagement with circular economy practices. The research revealed that even though students practice sustainable behavior by recycling and reusing materials, they often lack any formal knowledge of the concepts guiding the circular economy. The study contributes to the understanding of student engagement with sustainability initiatives, highlighting a gap in awareness and formal educational opportunities on the topic. It is also emphasized that the circular economy principles need to be implemented with much greater thoroughness at higher education institutions to provoke a positive cultural transition toward sustainability.