Circular Economy for Sustainability TransformationLaajuus (5 cr)

Objective

Student understands how a circular economy changes the way in which value is created and how it is an indispensable part of the sustainability transformation. Student knows how circularity works for people, organisations, cities and regions. Student can apply principles of green and just economy and promote climate neutrality and resource efficiency. During this course, students are working and familiarising themselves with circular economy cases from e.g. working life, industries, or municipalities. The aim is to build up the theoretical knowledge required for Master’s Thesis.

Competencies emphasised in the course: learning to learn, ethics, proactive development, sustainable development, internationality and multiculturalism, critical and future oriented thinking

Content

- Economic and social system from a circularity and sustainability perspective.
- Circular economy frameworks and policies as well as instruments available internationally to finance circular economy solutions.
- Regional and national examples of circular economy development, e.g. industrial ecosystems, national roadmaps towards circular economy etc.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

1-2: Student
● understands main frameworks of circular economy in national and international level.
● identifies the principles of circular economy as a part of the transformation towards sustainability.
● presents at least one real-life development case of circular economy as a part of the organisation network, municipality or national level operations.
● knows the main points about how to promote circular economy as a part of the operations.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

3-4: Student
● can assess the impact of organisations’ circular economy operations or development activities on their stakeholder network and how the “industrial symbiosis” is shown in this context.
● can assess the key factors of operations, which are influencing the transformation towards sustainability in the operations
● is able to define progress measures for circular economy in the chosen organisation and the potential of those development activities.
● can propose at least one real-life example of how to improve the circular economy as a part of the organisation's operations and how this promotes the transformation towards sustainability.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

5: Student
● can apply and analyze development ideas to enhance circular economy principles in the organisation’s operations.
● can evaluate the impact of circular economy development activities in the organisation or in the chosen context
● shows knowledge of complex systems which are implementing circular economy principles as a daily basis in their operations and is able to evaluate how symbiosis is supporting the organisation network.