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An exploratory thematic review of the emerging field of RRI education

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This exploratory thematic review examines the emerging landscape of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) education. It reviews 17 peer-reviewed studies published over the past two decades, using the PRISMA methodology. These studies were categorized into four themes to identify recurring successes and obstacles. The review highlights several successful practices, including the contextualization of RRI, promotion of reflexivity, participatory methods, interdisciplinary collaboration, and instances of institutional integration. Simultaneously, it uncovers persistent obstacles such as conceptual ambiguity, institutional resistance, scalability limitations, and the difficulty of translating abstract RRI principles into measurable competencies. The relations between some of these obstacles suggests a vicious reinforcing cycle that hinders progress in RRI education. We argue that resolving conceptual and definitional ambiguities could foster a more coherent and sustainable RRI education.

Source: Journal of Responsible Technology

DOI: 10.1016/j.jrt.2026.100152

Authors: Ferdinand Griesdoorn, Maarten Kroesen, Pieter Vermaas

Language: English

Topic: Sustainability in Higher Education

Subfield: Education

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,560

OpenAlex ID: W7123962986

FWCI:

Cites: 9

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