**1. Introduction**

The research work documented in this chapter represents the systematized efforts of researchers with multidisciplinary approaches and inter-institutional cooperation efforts. The National Technological Institute of Mexico (TecNM Campus Tijuana) through the efforts of the Department of Economic and Administrative Sciences, the Division of Postgraduate Studies and Research, and the Coordination of the Doctorate Project in Administration have strategically defined a line of research on sustainable development of according to the guidelines of the National Strategic Programs

(PRONACES) of the National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT) as a requirement for the opening of new postgraduate programs at the national level in Institutions of Higher Education, to obtain the Recognition of the National Postgraduate Program of Quality (PNPC).

The strategic articulation generated with the Autonomous University of Baja California Tijuana Campus and its Faculty of Accounting and Administration was developed through a cooperation agreement and coordinated work with a research project oriented to the circular economy and the study of sustainable development for the analysis in Small and Mid-size Enterprises (SMEs) in the City of Tijuana.

The postgraduate program of Master in Administration of the National Technological Institute of Mexico Campus Tijuana, with a history of more than 25 years, has become the space and benchmark for applied research in Economic and Administrative Sciences, being the benchmark for intervention models, Unit of Verification of Municipal Development according to the Global Agendas such as the sustainable development goals (SDG), for their respective evaluation and feedback to the representatives of the Municipalities of the State of the Government of Baja California.

The University of Guadalajara through the International Center for Social Innovation for Development has generated collaborative actions of experiences developed in the Municipalities of the State of Jalisco.

The academic link and applied research of the TecNM Campus Tijuana has been characterized by leadership and the convocation of Professors, Researchers, Specialists, Researchers, and Representatives of the Social Sector. The objectives of collaborative work have generated academic and outreach productivity, as well as social economy forums, and sustainable development seminars with interventions by specialists at the local, national and international levels. In order to lay the foundations and cultivate the research line of the future postgraduate program of Doctorate in Administration, a National Research Project is being developed, entitled: Observatory of sustainable development in postgraduate study programs in Baja California. The scientific research project is registered in the call of the Technological National of Mexico. And the purpose is to eventually generate a model that can be replicated at the regional and even national and international levels according to the Global Agendas for raising awareness of sustainable development in the higher education sector.

The circular economy as a term of reference and practice-oriented towards a virtuous cycle of raw materials through recycling to reuse waste has its reference point chronologically since the 1980s. Associating the circular economy with creative initiatives. Likewise, as a point of reflection on the impact of the growing demand for non-renewable raw materials and an impact on the environment and the economy of society. Circular economy (CE), is a new concept characterized by processes associated with research, development, and innovation that challenges the linear economy model that several developing countries, towards paradigm changes in the production processes of waste management. Raw materials, and actions to prolong the virtuous cycle of recycling, reuse, and reduction of raw materials in production processes. Seeking with it, models of culture and adaptation of good sustainable development practices in organizations, and properly in all stages of the supply chain; suppliers, producers, and customers [1].

The development of the research note starts from the prospective of the objective of the scientific research project to lay the methodological bases that respond to the research question: What are the variables to determine the level of culture on

### *Observatory of Sustainable Development in Postgraduate Study Programs in Baja California DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.104641*

the sustainable development goals (SDG)? To build an observatory for the evolution of the SDGs [2] and circular economy under the local territorial approach in the municipalities, from an academic perspective. The documentary analysis of studies at the international level as a reference framework to identify best practices in business awareness and education in the new generations for the development of programs and initiatives to promote sustainable development is connected with the structure of the NODESS [3] model (Development Nodes of Social and Solidarity Economy) that represents the articulation of Institutions of Higher Education, Local Government (Municipalities) [4] and the Organism of the Social Economy (Cooperatives and Cooperative Associations), generating experiences of coexistence and education for life, through the identification of needs, projects and innovation in the city of Tijuana and its metropolitan area; carrying out action strategies that comply with four strategies aimed at 1. Research, 2. Dissemination, 3. Dissemination and 4. Publication.

The work team made up of academics, researchers, municipal officials and members of cooperatives develop responsibility and strategic leadership in matters of research, dissemination, entrepreneurship and capacity development, linkage, follow-up, and monitoring. Through a training and orientation program in the communities on the 17 SDGs and circular economy. This includes a program of meaningful learning practices to promote a culture of awareness of the sustainable development approach that involves three main spheres in perfect balance: 1. Economy, 2. Social aspect, and 3. Environment. And under the methodological practices of systemic focus groups, an inventory of good practices and a catalog of projects that affect the circular economy are developed, as well as sustainable development under the analysis of the contents of study plans aligned to sustainable culture. With the results of the prospective research on the needs of culture and education on circular economy, dictionaries of sectoral competences Dictionary of Sectoral Competences (DSC), in Spanish Diccionario de Competencias Sectoriales (DCS) [5] will be designed that include labor, professional, and research competences, as an empowerment strategy in the different levels of education from basic education up to postgraduate level. Having an emphasis on the importance of transmitting to future generations of citizens in the different sectors of society, from a family father, an entrepreneur, a professional, a government official, or the population in general.
