Study Guide

Learning outcomes

The student is able to
- explain critical environmental cycles (carbon, nutrient, water, air) and assess their roles in planetary sustainability
- evaluate the importance of biodiversity and ecosystem services in supporting life and resilience
- explain human impacts on environmental cycles
- understand climate feedback loops and how changes in one cycle affect others
- know circular bioeconomy principles and sustainability metrics to support ecological resilience and carbon sequestration
- understand how, especially SDGs 6, 12, 13,14 & 15, are linked to the course´s themes to promote more sustainable solutions

Implementation and methods of teaching

This course, Environmental Cycles and Sustainable Bioeconomy, is part of the 15 ECTS module: 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 contents, which is integrated into the course´s Moodle. The course contains background lectures field work, integration in development projects project and team work.

Timing and attendance

The course/module will start in week 37, during which a more detailed course schedule and assignments will be presented. The Environmental Cycles and Sustainable Bioeconomy 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 of the materials will be available online and delivered in Moodle.

Alternative completion methods

Arrangements will be agreed with the teacher responsible for the course.

Working life cooperation

Excursion.

Exam retakes

The course will be held annually.

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 environmental cycles and sustainable bioeconomy, especially renewable natural resources. Its aim is to highlight the importance of responsible production and consumption based on the principles of the circular economy. Also, understanding climate feedback loops and how changes in one cycle affect others is an important part of the course.

Additional information for students: previous knowledge etc.

No previous knowledge required.

Assessment criteria

All of the given assignments must be carried out (and approved). The more detailed evaluation criteria will be informed at 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)

The 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 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 in team work and reflect oneself learning outcomes

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

The 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 for sustainable, circular economy and product and process design
- describe and use methods how to discover circular economy opportunities
- participate actively in team work and reflect on their own and the team´s learning outcome

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

The 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.