SASI07 Circular Economy – Managing Materials Sustainably

From 2023 this course is no longer offered on campus for exchange students. Instead it is an online course, with application via Antagning.se (link leads to external site). The next planned course opportunity is for autumn semester 2024, with application window mid-March to mid-April 2024.

The aim of this course is for students to learn what the Circular Economy (CE) is, and how its emergence can be facilitated as the result of choices and strategies by suppliers, designers, businesses, policymakers, and all of us as consumers. The course delivers knowledge of where important materials in products we use every day are sourced from, and how these materials can be used more efficiently, for longer periods of time, and in closed loops – these being key areas of work encompassed by the concept of the CE. However, adoption of the CE does not happen on its own and requires the support of social, business, and policy interventions. The course provides numerous cases of management of materials for sustainability, skill building exercises, and tools for analyzing circular business models. Coursework also promotes the development of students ideas on how to facilitate the transition to a Circular Economy.

On completion of the course, the student shall
•Be able to describe the basic challenges involved in implementation of a Circular Economy and the contrast basic concepts, strategies and assessment methods that can enable a Circular Economy
•Be able to analyze, evaluate and make critical judgements on various strategies and approaches in transitioning to a Circular Economy
•Demonstrate the ability to plan and execute course assignments within given time limits, applying relevant and suitable methods for completing the assignment
•Demonstrate the ability to present, in written or oral form, a coherent and sustained argument related to given questions, or problems, of relevance to the course content
•Be able to reflect upon how individuals, businesses, and policies can promote or impede a transition to a Circular Economy.

Selected topics

• Materials 
• Circular Business Models
• Circular Design
•  Innovation and Assessment
• Policies and Networks
• Circular Societies

Teaching and assessment
The course is based on a ”flipped classroom” pedagogy and involves recorded lectures, seminars and case discussions, a course project and smaller assignments. Seminars and case discussions are compulsory, and active participation is required to pass the course. Students are awarded one of the following grades: U,3,4,5 - (Fail, Three, Four, Five)

All IIIEE course syllabi valid for the  academic year 2023/2024 are available via this link (opens in a new window) . Note that you must change to English language in the upper right menu.