Conference Agenda

This study investigates how adaptive reuse servicescapes may contribute to sustainable transformation through learning, by leveraging circular practices as experiential learning tools. Research on circular economy rarely adopts a human-centred lens or explores its links to learning, especially in the Global South, where the value of alternative epistemologies and informal economies often remains unrecognised. To address this gap, a qualitative case study approach was employed, combining participant observation and semi-structured interviews at educational initiatives in an adaptive reuse precinct in inner-city Johannesburg, South Africa. The findings reveal a reciprocal relationship between education and circular practices in generating value for sustainable human development. The study positions adaptive reuse environments as facilitators of experiential learning, with the potential to foster inclusive, community-driven transformation and support sustainable livelihoods. Finally, the paper proposes an inclusive experiential learning model that integrates circular practices as both learning content and method.