Managing Circular Economy

Learning outcomes
Reaching the goals of sustainable development requires a fundamental shift in the way resources are used in our economic system. It requires a shift from a linear economic model where resources are used and discarded to a circular economy model, where resources and materials are reused and recycled. The circular economy refers to a model, where economic value is created through the circular use of resources. The societal transition towards circular economy has fundamental implications for businesses and other organizations.

Managing Circular Economy offers students tools and concepts to understand the transition towards circular economy, and the role of businesses and other organizations in it. Students will learn concrete methods for developing organizational capabilities for circular business, and thus benefit from the transition. This type of business requires a systemic perspective towards business, and the course will also contribute towards an impoved understanding of systems thinking in business as well as understanding of business sustainability action, especially towards enviromental goals.

Content
The course will introduce the key models and frameworks to understand what circular economy means for the society as well as for individual organiztions. It will also introduce systems thinking and sustainable development goals as tools to situate an organization in its broader societal environment.

Special focus areas of the course will include circular economy business models and strategies, collaboration for circular economy, the role of different intermediaries such as public sector organizaitons and NGOs in the circular economy as well the role of new technologies as enablers of circular economy. Throughout the course, understanding nature of sustainability transitions and thinking in terms of systems will be important themes. Guest lectures will bring important insights from practicioners and professionals for understanding the practice of developing circular business. 

Teacher
Samuli Patala

Study material
Learning materials include lectures, articles and videos, which are provided in the course syllabus 

Online learning environment for the course & Activating Aalto ID

MyCourses online learning environment is a tool for both students and teachers for communication and managing everyday course work. You need an Aalto User ID to log in to the course's MyCourses workspace and participate in teaching. You can activate your Aalto User ID the day after the registration and you should activate it no later than the day before the start of the course. Instructions for activating your Aalto User IDDigital workspace of the course:
MyCourses

More details on completing the course will be available at MyCourses closer to the start of the course.

Workload
Lectures, individual and group assignments 

Prerequisites
Basic business knowledge is expected. "21E16001 Sustainability in Business", "21A00410 Yritysvastuu ja Etiikka" or similar course covering the fundamentals of responsible and sustainable business is highly recommended. 

Evaluation
Individual and group assignments (100%)
 

Teaching time and location

The teaching time and the location of the course can be found at Sisu information system 

1. The link leads to Completion methods tab of the course page  
2. From the top of the page (Version drop-down menu), check that academic year 2023-2024 is selected  

3. From the blue bar, click Lecture and open the Groups and teaching times tabto see the teaching time and the location of the course. Exam times can be seen by clicking Exam.
    

   Exam instructions at the Open University

Registration and course fee

Registration for Open University courses is done in Sisu-service. 

Course registration 

Registration for this course starts on 29.1.2024 at 9.00  
Registration for this course ends on 19.2.2024 at 23.59

The number of participants is limited to 8.

This course is organized by the Aalto University School of Business.

The course fee is paid upon registration for each course at a time and it is binding. Familiarize yourself with registration and payment rules as well as other guidelines for students:
Registration, payments and rulesAccess Token on Aalto University Campus

To be able to enter campus premises and classrooms you need the student access token of Aalto University. You can get the student access token from campus lobby services. The access token need to be activated with your Aalto account and password before you can use it. Please, arrive the campus well in advance before your first class so that you can make the access token work. Please, see the instructions how to get and activate the access token: How to get an access tokenOtaniemi Campus, Espoo: Campus mapFurther information
Equivalences to other courses: 21C21000 Kiertotalouden strategiat ja johtaminen

Individual study arrangements

If you need individual study arrangements in order to attend a course, contact the Open University office [email protected] in good time, at least 14 days before the start date of the course or the examination date. Further information about individual study arrangements:
Individual study arrangements at Open University