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Semester 1

Eco-Innovation for a Circular Economy (BUST10153)

Subject

Business Studies

College

CAHSS

Credits

20

Normal Year Taken

3

Delivery Session Year

2023/2024

Pre-requisites

Visiting students must have completed at least 4 Business courses at grade B or above. We will only consider University/College level courses.

Course Summary

The course introduces key environmental sustainability theories, models and frameworks. This is a project-based course which provides students with an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills acquired throughout their business degree programme. Students are supported in forming groups and choosing a case-study organisation whose current business model results in a detrimental environmental impact. Optional sectors to draw from include construction, fashion, automotive, food, agriculture, electronics and cosmetics. Students work collaboratively within their groups to review the current business model of their chosen organisation with the purpose of identifying alternative practices which eliminate waste and pollution, promote the continual use of resources and reduce environmental impact. The course adopts a flipped classroom delivery method, with course materials available online and 2 hours per week of facilitated seminars, workshops and group activities. Full semester delivery.

Course Description

Academic Description The course introduces key environmental sustainability theories, models and frameworks. This is a project-based course which provides students with an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills acquired throughout their business degree programme. Drawing from case-study organisations and industries with a detrimental environmental impact, the course invites students to generate and select viable eco-innovations which work towards circularity and reduce environmental impact. It aims to develop inter-personal, analytical and presentation skills; to give detailed insights into the challenges and problems encountered by businesses wishing to adopt a more environmentally friendly approach and to gain practical knowledge of how environmental impact can be reduced with the adoption of more environmentally focused and sustainable business models. Outline Content Topic 1: The Problem: Resource Depletion, Pollution and Climate Change. Topic 2: Circular Economy Theories (eg Cradle to Cradle Design Philosophy by William McDonough and Michael Braungart, Biomimicry by Janine Benyus and Regenerative Design by John Lyle) Topic 3: Circular Business Models. (eg Circular Supply, Resource Recovery, Product Life Extension, Rental and Sharing Ownership and Product Service System Models) Topic 4: Design Thinking (Tools to Analyse, Ideate and Develop Eco/Circular Innovations) Topic 5: Materials: Designing for a Circular Economy Topic 6: Circularity: Closing the Loop Topic 7: Future of Eco-Innovations and Circular Economy Leadership. Student Learning Experience There will be a period of formal lectures and seminars at the start of the course. These will introduce key sustainability theories, models and frameworks with focus on Eco-innovation and the circular economy as a systems-based concept, aiming to design out waste and pollution. The central part of the course involves student groups identifying an organisation (or widely adopted industry practice) with a linear make-use-dispose business model. The groups will undertake secondary research to map current practice, with the objective of generating ideas and solutions which could be adopted to reduce the company's environmental impact. The final part, starting on Week 9 will conclude the project by providing workshops on presentation skills, report writing, cumulating with student video presentations, where the groups present their recommendations.

Assessment Information

Written Exam 0%, Coursework 100%, Practical Exam 0% 40% Group Report - 20% peer moderated - 8000 words. At the end of the group research project, each student group is expected to produce a report, the primary focus of which is to: - Describe current organisational / industry practice for a relevant case study. - Assess the current business model environmental impact. - Make recommendations (with justifications) for the adoption of improved business practice with the primary focus of reducing environmental impact. This must be a quality, typed and bound management report capable of professional dissemination of findings to the client. Ideally it should be informative but brief (8000 words). 10% Group Video Presentation - 20% peer moderated - 10 minutes The written report will form the basis for a formal video presentation made by the group to the organisation / industry outlining their current practice, evidencing environmental impact, along with your recommendations for improvement and your justification. Each member of the team has to contribute to the presentation, which should follow the core structure of the report. 50% Individual Assignment Relevant to the subject area.

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