Multidisciplinary study module on the circular economy

The project was part of the Circular economy teaching for all levels of education package implemented between 2017 and 2019. Sitra’s vision was that all graduates should understand what the circular economy means from the point of view of their work and day-to-day life, and what decisions and actions they can take to promote the circular economy. The aim was to increase expertise in the circular economy in Finland by extensively developing circular economy training, materials, concepts and co-operation from different points of view for all levels of education. More than 50 educational institutions, organisations and businesses took part in the package.

What was achieved?

The project developed a minor subject study module on the circular economy through co-operation between the five universities. The courses encouraged students to engage in dialogue with students from other disciplines on the course.

The courses were:

• Circular Economy Design Forum, five credits (Aalto University)
• Metal Recycling Technologies, five credits (Aalto University)
• Materials for Renewable Energy, five credits (Aalto University)
• Kestävä kehitys opetuksessa (Sustainable development in teaching), five credits (University of Helsinki)
• Biorefineries, five credits (Lappeenranta University of Technology)
• Current Issues in Enabling Technologies for the Circular Economy, five credits (Lappeenranta University of Technology and University of Oulu)
• Environmental Chemistry and Ecology, five credits (University of Oulu)
• Environmental Load of Industry, five credits (University of Oulu)
• Kiertotalouden politiikka, oikeus ja yhdyskunnat (Circular economy politics, law and societies), five credits (University of Eastern Finland)

Read about the Multidisciplinary Study Module on the Circular Economy on the Aalto University website.

Who was involved?

Sitra funded the project, and the people responsible for the project at Sitra were Riitta Silvennoinen and Nani Pajunen. The study module was implemented through co-operation between the Aalto University School of Chemical Technology and the Aalto University School of Business, the Department of Chemistry at the University of Helsinki, the Department of Geographical and Historical Studies at the University of Eastern Finland, the School of Engineering Science at Lappeenranta University of Technology and the Unit of Environmental and Chemical Engineering at the University of Oulu.

people

Nani Pajunen

Senior Lead, Programmes