Study Guide

Learning outcomes

The student is able to
- explain the role of technical and material cycles in supporting a circular economy
- evaluate responsible production and consumption practices for resources
- assess the impacts of sustainable and non-sustainable production on issues like pollution, climate change, and resource and nature depletion
- apply principles of circular economy to product and process design, with examples of circular models
- identify key policies and regulations that drive circular business development in various industries
- understand how, especially SDGs 9,12,13 & 15, are linked to the course´s themes to promote more sustainable solutions

Implementation and methods of teaching

This course, Technical Cycles, is part of the 15 ECTS modulu: Introduction to sustainable solutions engineering, containing three different courses which are implemented partly in parallel and integrated during the autumn semester. The main part of the theoretical content of the course is covered through a MOOC course with a similar name and content, which is integrated into the course´s Moodle. The course contains excursion, applied ecodesign project, team work and reading club sessions.

Timing and attendance

The course/module will start in week 37, during which a more detailed course schedule and assignments will be presented. The Technical Cycle course consists of 3-4 full-day sessions, which may include excursions, projects, group work, and theoretical background. Attendance at the course's face-to-face teaching sessions is recommended; absences must be agreed with the course's responsible teachers. Students can independently complete the MOOC course included in the course according to their own schedule.

Learning material and recommended literature

Most part of the materials will be achievable online and delivered in Moodle.

Alternative completion methods

Arrangements will be agreed with the teacher in responsible of the course.

Working life cooperation

Excursion

Exam retakes

The course will be held yearly.

Learning environment

Classroom, laboratories, online learning platform (Moodle), and Teams.

Student time use and work load

Half of the course workload (about 65 h) is allocated to completing the MOOC component of the course. There is approximately 20 h of contact teaching, the rest of the working time is allocated to group work and independent work. The more detailed plan and schedule will be given at the first meeting.

Contents

This course focuses on the technical and material cycles, especially non-renewable natural
resources. It aim is to highlight the importance of the responsible production and consumption based on the principles of the circular economy. Also the principles of sustainable value chains, design and examples of circular economy models will be familiar during the course.

Additional information for students: previous knowledge etc.

No previous knowledge required

Assessment criteria

All of the given assignments and exam must be done (and approved). The more detailed evaluation criterias will be informed in the beginning of the study module.

Assessment scale

1-5

Failed (0)

The student has not achieved the competence objectives of the course or has not been able to
demonstrate his / her competence

Assessment criteria: level 1 (assessment scale 1–5)

Student is able to:
- identify principles of technical and material cycles as a part of the sustainable and circular economy
- know the importance of responsible production and consumption of non-renewable natural
resources and materials
- know in the basic level the interactions of sustainable/non-sustainable production and consumption with the main future challenges like pollution, climate change, resource and nature depletion
- know the principles of sustainable, circular economy and product design
- participate team work and reflect oneself learning outcomes

Assessment criteria: level 3 (assessment scale 1–5)

Student is able to:
- understand the principles of technical and material cycles as a part of the circular economy
- understand the importance of responsible production and consumption of non-renewable natural resources and materials
- understand interactions of sustainable/non-sustainable production and consumption on the main future challenges like pollution, climate change, resource and nature depletion
- know the principles and methods used fot sustainable, circular economy and product and process design
- describe and use methods how to discover circular economy opportunities
- participate actively to team work and reflect oneself and teams learning outcomes

Assessment criteria: level 5 (assessment scale 1–5)

Student is able to_
- understand the importance of sustainable and circular technical and material cycles
- understand the importance of responsible production and consumption of non-renewable natural
resources, materials and their interactions
- understand and communicate actively about the interactions of sustainable/non-sustainable
production and consumption on the main future challenges like pollution, climate change, resource and nature depletion
- know how to apply methods related to sustainable, circular economy and product design
- discover a wide variety of circular economy opportunities