CIRCULAR Final Conference Celebrates Three Years of Impact, Innovation, and Collaboration in Southeast Asia
5–6 November 2025, Universiti Sains Malaysia – George Town, Penang
As the CIRCULAR project enters its final months, partners, educators, policymakers, and community leaders gathered at Universiti Sains Malaysia for the CIRCULAR Final Conference and Exhibition, marking the culmination of a highly successful three-year initiative dedicated to advancing circular economy innovation across Southeast Asia.
The conference opened with a warm welcome at USM, followed by rich experiential visits to the School of Humanities, JIMUI Studio, and the George Town Heritage Site. These visits highlighted the project’s commitment to blending academic knowledge with real-world cultural, artistic, and social contexts. The evening concluded with a celebratory, strengthening bonds among CIRCULAR consortium partners from Southeast Asia and Europe.
The second day began with a welcoming speech by Associate Professor Dr. Asyirah Abdul Rahim, CIRCULAR Coordinator, followed by an opening address by Associate Professor Dr. Jasni Sulong, Dean of USM’s School of Humanities. A highlight of the morning was the official launch of the CIRCULAR Final Publication, encapsulating the project’s methods, results, case studies, and sustainability roadmap.
Rashidah Jalaludin, Director of the Penang City Council’s City Services Department, delivered an insightful keynote highlighting how cities can drive circular economy transitions through collaborative governance, digital innovation, and community participation.
The conference featured three major plenary sessions showcasing CIRCULAR’s core achievements:
1. Training of Trainers
Experts from UAL, IPC, and INCOMA shared how the project’s Capacity Building Programme strengthened academic capacity and improved transnational teaching practices.
2. Living Labs in Teaching
Speakers from USM, SRU, and RUPP demonstrated how circular economy principles have been embedded into curricula, boosting student engagement through hands-on problem solving.
3. Community-Driven Innovation
UNIMAS, NUOL, and SKU highlighted successful community partnerships that addressed real sustainability challenges, proving the value of Living Labs beyond the university setting.
The testimonial session featured contributions from LINENICE, Kampus Sejahtera, and the winner of the project’s TikTok Video Competition, capturing personal stories and creative expressions of circularity.
This was followed by an engaging feedback session led by INCOMA, inviting participants to reflect on lessons learned and envision post-project collaborations.
The conference concluded with a final summary of all plenary discussions and closing remarks celebrating the consortium’s commitment, hard work, and shared accomplishments. As CIRCULAR approaches its official close in December 2025, partners reaffirmed their dedication to sustaining and expanding the project’s legacy across Southeast Asia.
The CIRCULAR project leaves behind strengthened academic capacities, empowered communities, innovative teaching tools, and a transnational network committed to advancing the circular economy. The Final Conference served not just as the conclusion of a major initiative, but as a starting point for new regional collaborations, future projects, and long-term impact.