• Explain different concepts of sustainability and explain how they relate to the circular economy
• Apply circular strategies and circular business models to explore the opportunities and challenges for circular transitions
• Use, explain, and reflect on the use of ethnographic methods and conceptual tools from entrepreneurship when framing and managing the process from idea to implementation
• Critically and reflectively analyze, compare, and discuss the fundamental assumptions, opportunities, and limitations of key concepts, analytical tools and methods from the course

Going Circular: From Idea to Implementation

“If you have vision and an eye for creativity, almost anything can be turned into something new and functional – more stylish than old, smarter than brand new,” claims TouchPoint, a Finnish company established in 2008, specializing in converting textile and plastic waste into work clothes. This course aims to provide students with the analytical concepts and practical tools that will enable them to realize their circular vision in various organizational contexts. By integrating ethnographic methods with key concepts from entrepreneurship, this class equips

students with the theoretical and practical knowledge needed to make transitions to circularity.

But what is the circular economy? How can organizations transition away from the linear economy, where products are manufactured from virgin materials and wasted after reaching the end of their life cycle? What are the options and approaches to organizing, documenting, communicating, and marketing circular services and products? Through this course, you will learn the basic principles of the circular economy and the strategies, market arrangements, and regulatory landscapes that set barriers and enablers for circular transitions.

The course is intensive and follows a problem-based learning approach, where students develop novel solutions to a real-world challenge posed by a case company that aspires to go circular. The class requires active participation from students, with classroom activities and discussions as well as working in project teams inside and outside the classroom. The aim is to facilitate learning by doing, learning by observing, and learning by explaining and critical reflecting. Students will be supported in their learning process with coaching in collaboration with the Copenhagen School of Entrepreneurship (CSE).

We begin by introducing the triple-H framework for sustainability learning exemplified by our very own Permaculture Garden, which embodies a key circular strategy. In the garden, we will form the teams that you will be working in throughout the course. In our second class, the case company will introduce their real-world circular challenge. Over the following weeks, you will be guided through the iterative process from devising a circular strategy, to designing a circular business model, to impact assessment and marketing. At each stage of the process, you will be supported with relevant concepts and tools to guide your learning experience within your team. In the final week of the course, your team will have the opportunity to

pitch your circular solution to the case company.

6-week course.

Preliminary assignment: The Nordic Nine pre-course is foundational for the summer university and identical for all bachelor courses. Students will receive an invitation with all details by the end of May. The assignment has two parts. 1.) online lectures and tutorials that student can access at their own time and 2.) one synchronous workshop which will be offered both online and in-person at several dates and times before the official start of the summer university courses. Sign-up is first come first serve. All students are expected to complete this assignment before classes begin.

Preliminary textbooks, subject to change:

1) Weetman, Catherine (2020) A Circular Economy Handbook. How to Build a More Resilient, Competitive and Sustainable Business. London: Kogan Page Ltd.

2) Sillanpää, Mika & Chaker Ncibi (2019) The Circular Economy: Case Studies about the Transition from the Linear Economy. London: Academic Press.