Enhancing Waste Management and Circular Economy Practices in Higher Education Institutions in UAE: A Study on Current Policies and Strategic Framework

The study investigates the integration of Circular Economy (CE) principles into higher education institutions (HEIs) in the UAE to address the growing challenges of waste management and sustainability. The UAE's economic growth and population increase have led to significant waste generation, necessitating a transition from the traditional linear economy model to a sustainable CE framework. Despite HEIs’ critical role in promoting sustainable development goals, existing accreditation standards lack requirements for CE implementation. Through a qualitative survey of 43 participants from 45 HEIs in UAE, the presented work examines awareness levels among HEIs employees, existing waste management practices in HEIS, and challenges to CE adoption within HEIs. The preliminary findings reveal a gap in providing formal training on CE and sustainability to HEIs employees, limited awareness of CE concepts within the employees, and inconsistent implementation of waste management practices in HEIs. The study proposes the need for a new CE framework designed for HEIs, focusing on: Awareness and Knowledge, Institutional Policies and Governance, and Infrastructure and Operations, to align with the UAE's 2021-2031 Circular Economy Policy.