In this work, an investigation on the interconnection between the environmental research and the academic teaching in a University of Applied Sciences (Western Macedonia, Greece) is presented. For this purpose, the Environmental Engineering students were familiarized, during their courses, with research methodology, research databases, and especially with a research program dealing with industrial waste recycling and valorization. The aim was to develop a meaningful nexus between the research aims and the course concepts, by implementing the aforementioned initiative. In this way, the research-based curricula may be improved, leading teachers and students to work together towards collaborative learning. Moreover, the students’ awareness regarding novel waste valorization technologies was recorded and evaluated, by conducting a comprehensive survey. Based on the results of this survey, a successful practical knowledge transfer to the learning-community was recorded. Therefore, the incorporation of research tasks in the teaching procedures should be considered an effective teaching strategy in order to increase the efficiency of the student’s learning capabilities in the higher technological education. Finally, according to students’ feedback, an increase in public acceptance and a successful dissemination of information related to research activities to the society can be achieved by implementing the methodology described here.

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