Learning Communities as Drivers of Circular Economy Transition

This blog post is based on the master’s thesis The Social Impact of Circular Economy Learning Communities: Case BECOME project by Alina Järvipetäjä (University of Vaasa). 

The transition towards a more circular economy requires comprehensive behavioural change. Developing the skills, knowledge, and partnerships needed for circular practices requires collaboration across education, business, and society. The circular economy learning communities address this need for new knowledge, collaboration, and skills. 

The learning communities play an important role in this change of behaviour. Established in Finland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Bulgaria, these communities bring together higher education institutions, vocational education and training providers, and labour market actors.  

The learning communities operate in different policy contexts. Circular policy and partnerships are more developed in Finland and the Netherlands, while in Bulgaria and Slovenia circular policy and partnerships are at an earlier stage of development. All learning communities have been able to begin knowledge-sharing activities. 

The research found that learning communities contribute to the circular economy transition in multiple ways. Participants have increased their knowledge and developed practical skills that support the transition towards more circular practices. The study discovered that especially the Finnish and Dutch learning communities contribute to increased circularity in their communities by teaching concrete skills, such as circular building and design. Learning communities are drivers of circular economy transition through knowledge exchange and education and support the behavioural change required for circular transition. 

Social Impact of Learning Communities 

Beyond supporting circular practices, the learning communities also generate important social benefits for participants and their regions. The empirical research found that by increasing circular knowledge, learning communities strengthen the green skills of participants, consequently enhancing their employability. Learning communities encourage entrepreneurship by fostering collaboration and creativity, thus contributing to increased social capital for the participants.  

The study also identified factors influencing the effectiveness of learning communities. Differences in project organisation, knowledge, and culture can create challenges for cooperation. At the same time, diversity between countries can be a strength as it enables partners to learn from different experiences and perspectives. Clear communication, adaptation to local contexts, and targeted circular economy education are essential for maximising the impact of learning communities. 

The study highlighted the importance of measuring social impact through a Social Impact Assessment framework, which encourages projects to identify community needs, monitor outcomes, and ensure that positive impacts remain after the project activities.  

Proposed Social Impact Assessment Framework for Learning Communities 

The findings demonstrate that learning communities act as catalysts for the circular economy transition. By building knowledge, fostering collaboration and strengthening regional capacity for change, they help translate circular ambitions into practical action. As the transition towards a more circular economy continues, understanding and measuring the social impacts of circular economy projects will become increasingly important for ensuring lasting change.

Read the full master’s thesis here: https://osuva.uwasa.fi/items/628df3dd-7281-42e2-b718-74973e3ffb58