Course description for 2020/21
Business Models for Circular Economy
ECO5020
Course description for 2020/21
Business Models for Circular Economy
ECO5020
Our economy is largely based on a make-use-dispose model that currently uses more resources than the Earth can provide and pollutes our natural environment (e.g. plastic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions). Governments and businesses are increasingly relying on circular economy principles by optimizing the use of limited resources and minimizing emissions of the environment to make a transition towards a more sustainable future. This course provides competencies on the different principles of circular economy, how material cycles can be more effective, how sharing economy can be applied and how individuals, companies and communities can contribute to the circular economy transition. We will be focusing on sustainable business and production within and across different sectors. The role of innovation will be explored, such as creating new business opportunities based on efficient resource usage, selling services instead of products, product design, maintenance, repair, reuse, and manufacturing, refurbishing, and recycling. The course will use a case-based format and will help students to learn connections between economic, environmental, social and governance issues.
Must fulfill the requirements for admission to the two year Master of Science in Business program.
Knowledge
- advanced knowledge about circular economy principles and the social, managerial, and political challenges of sustainable business;
- thorough knowledge theoretical perspectives that integrates social, economic and natural systems, process and structures;
- knowledge about the application circular economy principles in businesses across different contexts;
- Knowledge about how innovation processes can transform businesses and industries towards a circular economy.
Skills
- to analyze the complex interplay between the economic, social, environmental, and governance issues within circular economy;
- to apply knowledge to manage an independently;
- to analyze and critically access foundations for sustainable business within and across different sectors;
- to identify and evaluate innovative opportunities for value-creation from adapting circular economy principles within and across different sectors.
General competence
- can analyze opportunities and challenges of circular economy and it significance for business in different contexts;
- can demonstrate their communication skills by providing convincing arguments to act as an circular economy expert in different decision-making situations of a business;
can display their creativity in designing and implementing circular economy innovations in new and established businesses and demonstrate understanding of its impact across the wider ecosystem.
No tuition fees. Costs for semester registration and course literature apply.
Lectures, case studies, and group discussions
The programme is evaluated accirding to the university's quality assurance system.
Exam can be delivered in English or Norwegian
Pen, pencil, ruler, bilingual dictionary and simple calculator.