Formation of management system of university’s educational and scientific assets in the context of transition to the model of circular economy in China

Abstract

Circular economy (CE) is considered in the scientific community as a remedy for achieving sustainable development goals. The use of renewable energy and the elimination of waste through the perfect design of materials, products, and systems, and within this launch of business models are becoming priority areas for the development of the Chinese economy. The triple function of education, scientific research, and social services of higher education institutions indicates that universities are a driving force in the development of knowledge, values, technology, and the formation of behaviors and lifestyles necessary for the transition to a circular model. Insufficient coverage of issues related to the definition of the theoretical and methodological foundations for managing the university's educational and scientific assets in accordance with the basic principles of the circular model of the Chinese economy determines the relevance and timeliness of the dissertation research. Based on a systematic literature review, the role and significance of higher education institutions in the development of the CE model in China are analyzed. It is determined that the increase of university research and educational assets in the context of CE is closely related to such factors as institutional design, technological progress, and dissemination of pilot experience. It is found that the transition to a new model of the economy will be longer compared to developed countries due to the lack of public awareness, as well as the inconsistency of modern technologies with the norms and CE principles. The study identifies key drivers for an accelerated transition to the CE model in China, including (i) appropriate policies and support for the business model developed by the government, (ii) technological support, (iii) public participation, awareness and knowledge of the circular model, and (iv) economic benefits. The main barriers to the transition to the new model are also identified, including cultural, market, regulatory, and technological barriers. Based on a thorough analysis of these factors, it is proved that universities have the potential to have a significant impact on strengthening the drivers and removing the barriers to the formation of a new model through educational and scientific research activities, which states the significant role of universities in the CE implementation. The study finds that building up the university's research and educational potential in accordance with the needs of the CE, including green campus initiatives, should be reflected in the university's strategic development plan. It is proved that universities have a significant impact on accelerating the transition to a new model. Based on the basic principles of CE, the study summarizes the contribution of universities to the implementation of the new model. It is found that previous research in this area of knowledge is fragmented and mainly focuses on CE-related specialties, teaching approaches and tools, as well as CE practices on campus. Based on this, the study substantiates the expediency of forming a system for managing the university's educational and scientific assets, which should be based on the integration of various activities and the involvement of all participants in the research and educational process to enhance the effect of the transition to a new model. The evolution of management, mechanisms of functioning, and evaluation of sustainable universities are analyzed. It is concluded that the practice of sustainable management in universities has evolved from the "Environmental Management System" to the "Sustainability Management System". In the context of managing university assets related to CE, it is proposed to apply a two-pronged hybrid model that mixed a top-down approach and a participatory approach to guarantee the realization of sustainable development goals. The study assesses the scientific potential of Chinese universities to implement CE based on the analysis of relevant data in Chinese universities. The analysis of curricula, enrollment plans, and the employment situation in CE-related specialties in Chinese universities shows that universities have significant potential to accelerate the transition to a new model, which involves the introduction of relevant specialties, revision of curricula, enhancement of hidden curriculum, enrichment of general education with CE, advanced training of academic staff related to CE specialties, and expansion of the educational environment. A method of spatial econometrics is proposed to analyze the scientific potential of universities in terms of compliance with the circular model, which allows identifying the dependence of regional technology development on universities through Moran's index and provides stakeholders with guidelines for further investment in research at universities. It has been established that university innovations have a significant impact on the innovation activities of regional enterprises. In addition, university scientific research has a significant potential to promote technological innovation activities of universities and enterprises in the surrounding regions, which are critical links necessary for the CE implementation. The expediency of introducing the term "CE-related university assets" into scientific circulation is substantiated, which is proposed to be defined as a set of all types of resources and assets that are formed in the course of university development, are owned and controlled by the university and form the scientific and educational potential of the university to implement the principles of the new model. The study proposes a system of attributes of university assets of the circular model, including non-profit status, technological innovation, education, propagation, and efficient use of resources, which allows interpreting the contribution of different types of university assets in the context of the needs of the CE model. In addition, a classification of CE-related university assets has been developed according to several features, in particular, by purpose (scientific research, education, and operation assets), by form (tangible and intangible assets), by the level of formation costs (high-cost and low-cost assets), by the form of impact (direct and indirect assets), which is useful for decision-makers on sustainable campus development and participants in the educational and scientific process to promote alternative consumption models and shape recycling behavior. The theoretical foundations for the formation of a system for managing university educational and scientific assets for CE are developed. The proposed system integrates various types of activities and involves all participants in the scientific and educational process. The main activities of the university in the context of CE are studied. In particular, the scientific research activities of the university contribute to the production of ideas and the creation of innovations for enterprises interested in implementing the CE principles. Education activities involve the introduction of new disciplines and specialties for CE professionals, as well as the introduction of appropriate general education for all university students. Social practice and volunteer activities, which are derived from educational activities, define students as subjects for spreading the concept of CE among the public. The study outlines a scientific and methodological approach to assessing the effectiveness of university asset management in terms of meeting the educational and innovative needs of the circular model, based on 29 indicators, which is useful for creating an information feedback channel for public participation in managing activities related to the implementation of circular model strategies. The assessment system includes target, criterion, and index layers, where each indicator is assigned a corresponding weight. The assessment of the compliance of the university's scientific and educational potential with the needs of the CE is based on the points obtained on the established scale. This dissertation explores the experience of the waste management program at Leiden University in the Netherlands in the context of management functions, namely planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. Leiden University's waste management plan is fully in line with the objectives of the environmental policy, which details the action plan for fulfilling environmental and sustainable development responsibilities. The specific goals, responsible departments, and implementation of the responsibility status in the areas of education and research are summarized. Compared to other universities, Leiden University applies a basic waste reduction approach to achieve its waste management goals, including waste prevention, waste separation, and recycling. The university's annual sustainability report also confirmed the effectiveness of waste management and commitment to this concept. Based on the results of the study, a draft waste management program is developed at the studied university in line with the experience of universities in the Netherlands, which is based on progressive norms and standards of the European Union for the establishment of a circular model that can be implemented in the context of a campus sustainability strategy. In the course of the study, interviews are conducted on waste management at the Henan Institute of Science and Technology in China. The analysis showed that on average, the amount of waste at the university is relatively low compared to other Chinese universities, but significantly higher than at universities in the Netherlands. It is found that five waste streams are collected at the university, including food waste, mixed waste, recyclable and non-recyclable waste, and laboratory hazardous waste. The main problems with waste management at the university are identified. This dissertation presents the results of a survey of 1300 respondents from the Henan Institute of Science and Technology. Statistical analysis methods are used to determine the relationship between the variables. It is found that the dominant factors that influence the behavior of college students regarding waste separation are reminders about waste separation, installation of waste separation containers, and awareness raising. At the same time, five factors have been identified that hinder the process of separate collection, namely knowledge deficiency, outdated equipment, time, lack of incentives, and neglect of personal responsibility. It is found that females are more responsible for separate collection compared to males, and freshmen demonstrates more rational behavior in terms of waste separation, while the behavior of senior students is more sensitive to the identified factors. The expediency of using artificial intelligence technology for waste management, which covers the processes of waste dumping, separated collection, and sorting, is substantiated. An artificial intelligence-based university waste management system is proposed that applies artificial intelligence technologies to all the processes of managing waste streams, which allows to increase in the efficiency of waste management and accelerate the process of intelligent urban waste management, as opposed to the traditional manual model.