Knowledge and Learning Preferences in Circular Economy and Plastics: A Case Study from the Faculty of Environmental Protection

<p>The Erasmus+ project Edu4PlastiCircular addresses plastic waste and its role in achieving a circular, climate-neutral economy by fostering green skills in higher education. It focuses on developing training on key topics covering areas like: plastic world, waste management, circular economy, innovation, and responsible behavior. A gap analysis conducted at the Faculty of Environmental Protection and partner institutions assessed the knowledge and perceived usefulness of these topics. Both students and staff rated the topics’ usefulness higher than their current knowledge, with staff scoring both aspects more favorably. In terms of learning preferences, hybrid learning is favored overall, with students leaning slightly more toward face-to-face formats, while online learning was the least popular. PowerPoint presentations were the most preferred learning material, while printed and digital books were less favored. These findings provide valuable insights for designing educational programs that align with the needs and preferences of both students and academic staff.</p>