Succeeding in Bioeconomy: Serbian Universities’ Blueprint

  • Vule M Mizdraković Singidunum University
  • Marija Kostić Singidunum University
  • Jelena Stanković Singidunum University
Keywords: study programmes, bio-based courses and modules, departments, university curricula, bioeconomy,

Abstract


The purpose of this paper is to provide insight into the level of integration of the bioeconomy concept in the study programmes and modules at Serbian higher education institutions. Bioeconomy is based on multidisciplinary approach, which consists of research, education and innovation. Bioeconomy must be initiated by the government, developed by research institutions, universities and cluster, and thoroughly implemented into existing and emerging industries. As educators, Serbian universities should play a key role in developing future professionals. Research has been conducted to determine if Serbian universities educate students in the fields relevant to the concept of bioeconomy. All accredited study programmes in academic year of 2017/2018, at all universities in the Republic of Serbia, have been analysed. The research included 17 universities, 152 departments, 481 study programmes, 705 modules and 43,360 courses. The modules within the study programmes were categorised as bioeconomy-based modules, non-bioeconomy-based modules with at least one bioeconomy-based course, and non-bioeconomy-based modules. The research shows that of the total number of modules, 43% include one or more bioeconomy-based courses. The share of such courses within modules ranges from 1% to 21% and differs among groups of scientific fields.

References

Basile, C. (2009). Intellectual capital and professional development schools. Albany: SUNY Press.

Biobased Industries Consortium (2018). Bioeconomy and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Retrieved from: https://biconsortium.eu/sites/biconsortium.eu/files/documents/Bioeconomy_and_the_SDGs_July%202018.pdf

Blumberga, D. et al, (2017). Why bioeconomy is actual for Latvia. Research achievements in Institute of Energy Systems and Environment. Energy Procedia, 113(1), 460–65. DOI: 10.1016/j.egypro.2017.04.039

Chen, J., Zhu, Z. & Yuan Xie, H. (2004). Measuring intellectual capital: a new model and empirical study. Journal of Intellectual Capital, 5(1), 195–212. DOI: 10.1108/14691930410513003

Cvjetković, M. (2015) Knowledge and quality as the factors of the business operations and competitiveness promotion - research results from Serbia. Industrija, 43(2), pp. 53-72.

Dietz, T., Boerner, J., Foerester, J. & Braun, J. (2018) Governance of the Bioeconomy: A Global Comparative Study of National Bioeconomy Strategies. Sustainability, 10(9), 1-20. DOI: ssrn.com/abstract=3214439

Earl, P. (2017) Lifestyle changes and the lifestyle selection process. Journal of Bioeconomics, 19(1), 97-114. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10818-016-9212-0

European Commission, (2012). The bioeconomy strategy. Retrieved from: http://ec.europa.eu/research/bioeconomy/pdf/official-strategy_en.pdf

Gogan, M. (2014). An innovative model for measuring intellectual capital. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 124(1), 194–99. DOI: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.02.477

Grzyb, K., Hartman, B.D. & Field, K.G. (2017). Comparing industry and academia priorities in bioenergy education: a Delphi study. International Journal of Sustainable Energy, 37(10), 956-969. DOI: 10.1080/14786451.2017.1402769

Haarich, S. (2017). Bioeconomy development in EU regions. Final report, research and innovation. European Commission.

Iazzolino, G. & Laise, D. (2016). Value creation and sustainability in knowledge-based strategies. Journal of Intellectual Capital, 17(3), 457–70. DOI: 10.1108/JIC-09-2015-0082

Ignjatijević, S., Cogoljević, M. & Milenković, N. (2018) Economic Assessment of Significance of Education in the Development of a Knowledge-Based Economy. Industrija, 46(3), pp. 185-200.

Jednak, S. & Kragulj, D. (2010). Ekonomija zasnovana na znanju – osnov ekonomskog rasta i razvoja. Menadžment: Časopis za teoriju i praksu menadžmenta, 15(57), 5-13. DOI: 10.1093/aepp/ppx051

Kangas, J., Tikkanen, J., Leskinen, P., Kurttila, M. & Kajanus, M. (2016) Developing hybrid SWOT methodologies for choosing joint bioeconomy co-operation priorities by three Finnish universities. Biofuels, 8(4), 459-471. DOI: 10.1080/17597269.2016.1271625

Kaplan, R. & Norton, D. (2004). Measuring the strategic readiness of intangible assets. Harvard Business Review, 82(2), 52–63.

Komnenić, B., Tomić, D. & Tomić, G. (2010). Measuring efficiency of intellectual capital in agriculture sector of Vojvodina. Budapest: Agroinform Publishing House.

Koukios, E., et al. (2018) Targeting sustainable bioeconomy: A new development strategy for Southern European countries. The Manifesto of the European Mezzogiorno. Journal of Cleaner Production, 172(1), 3931-3941.

Levidow, L., Birch, K. & Papaioannou, T. (2012) Divergent Paradigms of European Agro-Food Innovation: The Knowledge-Based Bio-Economy (KBBE) as an R&D Agenda. Science, Technology & Human Values, 38(1), 1-32.

Lyytimaki, J., et al. (2017) Developing key indicators of green growth. Sustainable Development, 26(1), 51-64. DOI: 10.1002/sd.1690

McCormick, K. & Kautto, N. (2013). The bioeconomy in Europe: an overview. Sustainability, 5(1), 2589–608. DOI: 10.3390/su5062589

Mitra, M., Nagchaudhuri, A. & Rutzke, C. (2013). Energizing the STEAM curricula with bioenergy and bioproducts, 120th ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition. Atlanta, Georgia, 23–26 June, 2013. Washington, DC.

Muizniece, I., LeideTimma, L., Blumberga, A. & Blumberga, D. (2016). The methodology for assessment of bioeconomy efficiency. Energy Procedia, 95(1), 482–86. DOI: 10.1016/j.egypro.2016.09.072

Papadopoulou, E., et al. (2018) Bio-Economy in Greece: Current Trends and the Road Ahead. The EuroBiotech Journal, 2(3), 137-145. DOI: 10.2478/ebtj-2018-0018

Petrović, N., Snider, A., Ćirović, M. & Milenković, N. (2012). Debata u obrazovanju za održivi razvoj. Menadžment: Časopis za teoriju i praksu menadžmenta, 65(1), 33-39. DOI: 10.7595/management.fon.2012.0031

Petty, R. & Guthrie, J. (2000). Intellectual capital literature review: measurement, reporting and management. Journal of Intellectual Capital, 1(2), 155–76. DOI: 10.1108/14691930010348731

Ray, S., Srivastava, S., Diawakar, S., Nair, B. & Ozdemir, V. (2016) Delivering on the Promise of Bioeconomy in the Developing World: Link It with Social Innovation and Education. In: Srivastava S. (eds) Biomarker Discovery in the Developing World: Dissecting the Pipeline for Meeting the Challenges. Springer, New Delhi, 77-81.

Ristić, V., Mirković-Isaeva, O. & Vasić, B. (2018) Management of natural wealth – resources curse and socio-economic development. Industrija, 46(2), pp. 131-150.

Roos, J., Roos, G., Dragonetti, N. & Edvinsson, L. (1997). Intellectual capital. New York: Macmillan Business.

Saardchom, N. (2017). Bioeconomy as a New S-curve for Thai Economy. Agricultural Economics, 9(1), 430-439. DOI: 10.17221/78/2016-AGRICECON

Socaciu, C. (2014). Bioeconomy and green economy: European Strategies, action plans and impact of life quality. Bulletin UASVM Food Science and Technology, 71(1), 1–10. DOI: 10.15835/buasvmcn-fst:10121

Stewart, T. (1997). Intellectual capital. New York: Doubleday.

Sveiby, K. (1997). The new organizational wealth: managing and measuring knowledge-based assets. San Francisco: Barret-Kohler.

Tranfield, D., Denyer, D. & Smart, P. (2003). Towards a Methodology for Developing Evidence-Informed Management Knowledge by Means of Systematic Review. British Journal of Management, 14(1), 207-222. DOI: 10.1111/1467-8551.00375

Venkata Mohan, S., Nikhil, G.N., Chiranjeevi, P., Nagendranatha Reddy, C., Rohit, M.V., Naresh Kumar, A. & Omprakash Sarkar (2016) Waste biorefinery models towards sustainable circular bioeconomy: Critical review and future perspectives. Bioresource Technology, 215(1), 2-12. DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2016.03.130

Vlaamse, O. (2013). Bioeconomy in Flanders: The vision and strategy of the government of Flanders for sustainable and competititve bioeconomy in 2030. Retrieved from: http://ceebiofiles.testurl.be/content/files/2014-strategie-bio_economie_en.pdf.

Vukicević, S. & Milošević, S. (2012). IT, inovacije i održivost. Menadžment: Časopis za teoriju i praksu menadžmenta, 65(1), 79-84. DOI: 10.7595/management.fon.2012.0029

Zilberman, D., Gordon, B., Hochman, G. & Wesseler J. (2018). Economics of Sustainable Development and the Bioeconomy. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, 40(1), 22-37. DOI: 10.1093/aepp/ppx051

Published
2019/01/14
Section
Original Scientific Paper