{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T01:07:19Z","timestamp":1760058439708,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":50,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,7]],"date-time":"2025-04-07T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1743984000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sustainability"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This study investigates the perceptions and practices of Portuguese higher education students regarding the circular economy (CE), emphasising their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours toward sustainable resource management. Carried out by the Working Group on Circular Economy and Waste Management of the Portuguese Sustainable Campus Network (RCS), the research used an online survey targeting students from 20 higher education institutions (HEIs), resulting in 400 responses. The findings indicate that while students generally hold positive views of the CE, their understanding of its practical applications, such as waste reduction and resource efficiency, remains limited. Only a small proportion of students reported exposure to CE-related topics in their curriculum, revealing a gap in academic integration. This study also identifies significant demographic variations in CE awareness and practices, influenced by factors such as age, field of study, and employment status. These insights underscore the need for HEIs to strengthen CE education and actively involve students in hands-on sustainability initiatives, fostering a generation equipped to drive the transition toward a circular economy.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/su17073279","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,7]],"date-time":"2025-04-07T11:24:39Z","timestamp":1744025079000},"page":"3279","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["From Knowledge to Action: How Portuguese Higher Education Students Engage with Circular Economy Principles"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"17","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3953-8441","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ana","family":"Pardal","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Applied Sciences and Technologies, Polytechnic Institute of Beja, 7800-295 Beja, Portugal"},{"name":"CREATE\u2014Center for Sci-Tech Research in Earth System and Energy, 7000-671 \u00c9vora, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9636-1796","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Anabela","family":"Moreira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"TECHN&ART\u2014Centre for Technology, Restoration and Art Enhancement, Polytechnic Institute of Tomar, Estrada da Serra, 2300-313 Tomar, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6235-5745","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Cristina","family":"Galacho","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"HERCULES Laboratory, IN2PAST Associated Laboratory & Chemistry and Biochemistry Department of School of Sciences and Technology, University of \u00c9vora, Rua Rom\u00e3o Ramalho 59, 7000-671 \u00c9vora, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8374-3384","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Dina","family":"Mateus","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"TECHN&ART\u2014Centre for Technology, Restoration and Art Enhancement, Polytechnic Institute of Tomar, Estrada da Serra, 2300-313 Tomar, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1411-7245","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Laura","family":"Viegas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CIDNUR\u2014Lisbon Center for Research, Innovation and Development in Nursing, Lisbon School of Nursing, 1900-160 Lisbon, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Marcelo","family":"Gaspar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CDRSP\u2014Centre for Rapid and Sustainable Product Development, School of Technology and Management, Polytechnic of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2153-3282","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Margarida","family":"Ribau Teixeira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CENSE\u2014Center for Environmental and Sustainability Research, CHANGE\u2014Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ci\u00eancias e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Ed. 7, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8870-1765","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Vitor","family":"Manteigas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"H&TRC\u2014Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL\u2014Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Sa\u00fade, Instituto Polit\u00e9cnico de Lisboa, Av. 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