BIMTECH hosts KODECET events to promote circular economy education

Birla Institute of Management Technology, Greater Noida, hosted two regional events under the Erasmus+ funded KODECET project to promote circular economy education and strengthen sustainable teaching practices in higher education.

The sessions brought together faculty members, academic leaders, CSR professionals, sustainability experts, industry representatives, and members of the DIGI-SUSTEACH and KODECET teams to explore ways of integrating circular economy concepts into academic curricula and pedagogy.

Director Dr Prabina Rajib highlighted the shifting role of higher education, saying, “The future of higher education lies in its ability to align knowledge with responsibility. Circular economy provides a powerful framework to prepare students not only for careers but also for contributing to sustainable systems and societal transformation.”

The event opened with an overview of the KODECET project, an international collaboration involving institutions from India, Thailand, and Europe focused on capacity building through curriculum design, digital learning tools, and industry partnerships.

A key feature was the presentation of a three-course framework that outlines conceptual understanding, implementation strategies, and stakeholder-driven leadership in circular economy education.

Dr Veenu Sharma, National Lead KODECET, said, “Circular Economy education must move from fragmented teaching to structured curriculum design."

Discussions also focused on the role of higher education in building responsible citizenship, ethical leadership, and sustainability-focused decision-making.

Highlighting industry expectations, Dr KK Upadhyay, Professor and Chairperson, Centre for Sustainability and CSR at BIMTECH, noted, “Industry today requires professionals who can translate sustainability into practice. This calls for deeper collaboration between academia and industry and the integration of circular economy principles into mainstream management education.”

The program included case-based learning, interactive discussions, and experiential tools such as the CIRCULA game to connect theory with practical applications.

Participants responded positively to the structured approach, with one faculty member saying, “The session provided clarity on how to move beyond isolated sustainability topics and design integrated courses that are relevant to industry and society.”

An industry participant added, “The focus on practical tools like ESG and carbon accounting makes this initiative highly relevant for today’s business environment.”

The discussions also underscored growing demand for skills in circular business models, sustainable supply chains, ESG reporting, and sustainability analytics, along with the need for continuous faculty development and institutional support.

The events contributed to wider dissemination of the KODECET project outcomes and strengthened collaboration among stakeholders, reaffirming BIMTECH’s focus on responsible management education and global academic partnerships aimed at building a sustainability-driven future for professionals.