Delivering bioeconomy through creative learning: Portuguese higher education curricula context

The bioeconomy, also known as the 'economy for life', is crucial in addressing global challenges like climate change and resource scarcity. Higher education institutions must adopt innovative, interdisciplinary, and creative learning approaches to prepare students for sustainable economic growth. This study assessed students' self-perceived knowledge of bioeconomy through creative learning in higher education curricula, evaluating familiarity, value perception, and willingness to learn more. The survey conducted for 1st-year students from economy-related courses in four HEIs in Portugal resulted in 312 valid responses. Results showed no significant association between bioeconomy knowledge and participation in creative projects due to a lack of offers and low awareness. Interestingly, although students are unfamiliar with the bioeconomy concept, they believe in its value and importance. A key aspect involves understanding the perceptions of outcome importance and the skill level that can be achieved. The transformation is vital for training decision-makers capable of supporting sustainability challenges.