A Systematic Literature Review on Challenges to Circular Economy Implementation for Sustainable Technical and Vocational Education

Abstract

Circular economy (CE), a strategy that aims to reduce waste while extending the life of consumables, supports the responsible consumption and production of SDG 12. Previous research has shown that effective Technical & Vocational Education and Training (TVET) development can be fostered through the successful application of circular economy principles. However, it is still unclear about the role of the education sector because there is no clear empirical data showing the effective implementation of circular economy principles in TVET education sector. Realizing the great role played by the education sector, this paper emphasizes the challenges of implementing the circular economy in the development of TVET. This study attempts to better understand the role of the education sector in using circular economy practices through a systematic literature review and identify the main barriers to implementing circular practices for the creation of sustainable TVET. This study synthesizes research data from 25 recently published empirical investigations from Web of Science (WoS), ERIC, and Scopus databases published between 2020 to 2024. The findings show that implementation of circular economy faces three main challenges: (1) the importance of education and awareness in the development of sustainable TVET; (2) difficulties in the food sector's waste management and circular economy implementation; and (3) the application of innovation and technology to promote the circular economy. Overall, it implies that scholars and practitioners frequently discuss the application of the circular economy. Future studies suggest that a more focused empirical approach is needed to determine effective strategies to overcome these barriers and promote sustainable TVET development.