As part of the SKILLBILL European Master Specialization Programme, we are pleased to highlight another important course this semester: Circular Economy. This course explores a model of production and consumption that focuses on sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling materials and products to extend their lifecycle and minimize waste.
The Circular Economy course teaches students how this model differs from the traditional linear economic model, which is based on a take-make-consume-throw away pattern. This older model relies on large quantities of cheap, easily accessible materials and energy and often includes planned obsolescence, where products are designed to have a short lifespan to encourage repeated purchases.
Coordinated by Dr. ir. Jesús Rosales Carreón from Utrecht University and co-taught by Dr. Javanshir Fouladvand, this course provides students with the knowledge and tools to critically evaluate the circular economy and its role in the energy transition. Students learn about the basic concepts of a circular economy, its opportunities and limitations and the tools to measure its impacts. The course’s three main themes are: the fundamentals of the circular economy, sustainability challenges and assessment. Through the course, students are gaining insights into evaluating and assessing the sustainability of company processes, helping them understand the benefits and challenges of transitioning to a sustainable society.
Through SKILLBILL’s commitment to renewable energy education, the Circular Economy course equips students with the skills to tackle sustainability challenges in various sectors. Stay tuned for more updates and insights into our innovative courses and initiatives!
