Student Attitudes towards the Circular Economy: A Comparison between Bulgaria and North Macedonia

The circular economy involves three main processes - waste reduction, resource reuse, and material recycling. This makes it a more sustainable alternative to the linear nature of today's aggressive production and consumption. The need to implement this model requires exploring the interest of younger people in their proactive involvement in the circular economy. The present study is based on a comparative analysis of surveys conducted in the period December 2022 - January 2023 among 204 students in various bachelor's and master's majors with a business focus from the University of Ruse “Angel Kanchev” - Bulgaria and University American College in Skopje - North Macedonia. The research was carried out within the framework of the international Erasmus project - Leaders of the Green Economy, investigating the knowledge, attitudes, motivation, and behaviour of students regarding the circular economy. The conclusions drawn show that students are largely aware of the concept and are motivated to engage in the transition to the circular economy. The presentation and implementation in the curricula of examples of companies that have successfully implemented the principles of the circular economy in their business and production processes could further encourage the participation of young people in these sustainable economic activities. The current study is anticipated to enhance curricula by boosting interest and commitment among future entrepreneurs. In this sense, the research enriches the existing practices and theoretical knowledge in the field of training in corporate social responsibility, economics, and management.