Circular Economy
The course will define what circular economy is and how it is understood. The course will review the literature of the field and discuss how scholars and practitioners think about circular economy. During the course, we seek to discuss the different instruments within the circular economy, re-designing material cycles to support circularity, and how individuals and communities can give added value to solutions and the drivers and barriers within the path to more circularity. We will also put a spotlight on the business opportunities that emerge as a consequence of the circularity shift, including focusing on the contribution of innovation for circular economy, circular value chains, and collaboration, as well as circular business models.
The course will use a case-based format, including guest lecturers from policy and industry, and will help students learn connections between economic, environmental, social, and governance issues.
Students completing the course acquire the following:
Knowledge
- have advanced knowledge about circular economy by exploring the social, managerial, and political challenges of circular business;
- have a thorough knowledge of the theoretical underpinnings to understand better integrated social, economic, and natural systems, processes and structures;
- can apply knowledge of circular economy in businesses in different contexts;
- have a thorough knowledge of how innovation processes can transform businesses and industries towards a circular economy;
- can analyze circular economy strategies while discussing different industries.
Skills
- can analyze the complex interplay between the economic, social, environmental, and governance issues within a circular economy;
- can apply knowledge to support the shift to more circular activities and strategies in organizations;
- can apply knowledge to manage an independent analysis of a circular business model and be able to identify, analyze, and construct solutions for a given problem;
- can analyze and critically access foundations for circular and sustainable business development in different sectors.
General competence
- can analyze opportunities and challenges of circular economy in different contexts;
- can demonstrate their communication skills by providing convincing arguments to act as a circular business expert in different decision-making situations of a private or a public organization; can display their creativity in presenting opportunities and challenges arising from circular economy transitions.
- A 4-hour individual home examination with the Norwegian grading system (A-F), counting for 100% of the total grade.
- Oral presentations in groups (passed/not passed)
All support materials allowed. Generating an answer using ChatGPT or similar artificial intelligence and submitting it wholly or partially as one's own answer is considered cheating.
