Summer Course in The Circular Economy as a Social Innovation
Amsterdam, Netherlands
DURATION
2 Weeks
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Request the earliest start date
TUITION FEES
EUR 735 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* VU students
Introduction
What is the circular economy, and what can it mean for our life, study, and work? In this course, you will engage in active and creative workshops and excursions, next to lectures from circular economy experts. The course will teach you what the circular economy is, how it tackles environmental and social problems, and which social innovations are crucial to transition towards a circular economy. At the end of this course, you will be inspired and empowered to create social innovations for the circular economy.
Maybe you have heard about the circular economy, and that it can help in solving environmental and social problems. But what is the circular economy, and what can it mean for our life, study, and work? In this course, you will learn about the environmental and social reasons why Europe and the Netherlands aim to transition towards a circular economy. You will also learn that this transition needs social innovations to work: Innovations in society, business, and how people relate to each other.
The current linear take-make-waste economy negatively impacts the natural and social environment. The circular economy is an alternative that promises ways to regenerate the natural environment. In addition, the circular economy also promises to enhance social justice and it relies on innovative forms of social organizing. However, despite these promises, the social aspects of the circular economy are often overlooked in teaching.
This course is one of the first to focus on the social side of the circular economy. It draws from experiences in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and Europe, where social innovations and social justice are part of various circular initiatives. The course is also developed as part of two large research projects. The first research project investigates social innovations for the circular economy and focuses on organizations such as Repair Cafés. A second project investigates attempts to green city buildings in a way that creates social and environmental benefits and focuses on phenomena such as green roofs.
The course draws on previous work conducted by the (guest) teachers as part of a community focusing on people at the heart of circularity. This community consists of researchers and professionals and is organized by Het Groene Brein.
- Course level: Advanced
- Credits: 3 ECTS
- Contact Hours: 46
- Language: English
- Tuition fee: €735 - €1310
Ideal Students
The course is open to Beginner and Advanced Bachelor's students.
Students can have any educational background. However, they should have a broad interest in environmental sustainability, social sustainability, and how to create an economy that is socially just and environmentally sustainable.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Equal Access Scholarship
Application procedure
The application deadline has expired. It is no longer possible to apply for the Equal Access Scholarship.
Great that you are interested in applying for the Equal Access Scholarship. You can apply via this link (expired) for the scholarship from 1 February and 1 April. Please be aware that it is only possible to select one course.
The results of the scholarship selection will be announced in mid-May. Since we have a limited number of scholarships available for a large number of applicants, we suggest - if possible! - to complete your payment at the time of your course application to guarantee your place in the course. However, if you are not able to come without the scholarship, you can just wait until the announcement. If you would like to come, regardless of whether you will be granted the scholarship, it is best to secure your place in the course by completing your payment via our regular application form. If the scholarship is granted to you, the tuition and accommodation fees will be reimbursed.
Deadline to submit your Equal Access Scholarship application: 31 March (23:59 CET).
Photographer Scholarship
Do you love to capture moments, people, and surroundings on your smartphone/camera? Do you have good editing skills and a passion for social media? Become our summer school photographer! This photographer scholarship is only offered to those participating in a 2-week course or in case you join us for both sessions.
What do we offer:
- €500 discount on tuition fee
- A number of social activities for free (allocated by summer team, requirement: must take photos)
What do we expect from you:
- Photos of your time at VU Amsterdam Summer School (photos of fellow students, Amsterdam, excursions, and social program)
- Creating content/story takeover on the VU Amsterdam Instagram account
- Participation in the social program (free of charge and based on availability)
- Attending the photographer kick-off meeting
Application procedure*
Please send a short video where you introduce yourself (approx. 30 seconds-1 minute) and some examples of your photo work to [email protected], please use 'Photographer Scholarship' as the subject line. It is important to use your own smartphone or camera. Deadline for applications: 14 May 23:59 (CET).
As the Photographer application deadline is after the course registration deadline, it is important that you apply and pay for the course you are interested in before the application deadline of 1 May. If you end up winning the scholarship, then you will be reimbursed the €500 that the scholarship grants. If you are not granted the scholarship and are not able to join the course without the partial grant, then you can still receive a full refund until 16 May. If you are not able to join without the grant then you can also decide to wait until the winners are announced - and thus not apply for the course beforehand - however, this could mean that the course you are interested in is not available anymore. We, therefore. highly recommend, if possible, to apply via our application page before the official course registration deadline.
*If you are a summer Exchange student or a university partner nominee (course fee and/or housing is funded by your university), then you are, unfortunately, not applicable for this scholarship.
Welcome to Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Summer and Winter Schools
Last chance to apply!
Curriculum
The course lasts two weeks and contains 7 lectures, 4 excursions to illustrate circularity - in nature, in the city, and in (business) organizations, and 2 one-day workshops to create social innovations for circularity.
The course contains four topics
- What is the circular economy and what are the reasons to transition towards it: 1 guest lecture, 1 lecture, and 1 excursion to the forest with an international guest?
- What is the donut economy: 1 lecture and 1 excursion to the city
- What are the social barriers of the circular economy: 1 lecture
- What are social innovations for the circular economy: 1 guest lecture, 1 lecture, and 2 excursions to (business) organizations
These four topics are integrated into one lecture where the most effective and motivating social innovations are evaluated. This lecture is developed in collaboration with Effective Altruism, and more specifically Koen Schoenmakers (MIT, USA), the founder of an Effective Altruism student group in Rotterdam. Further practical integration happens in co-creation sessions and individual studies where students investigate and create the most effective and motivating social innovations for the circular economy.
The classes and co-creation sessions will be on the VU Campus. The excursions will all be in the city of Amsterdam (such as the Amsterdamse Bos). Students will be asked to read Doughnut Economics by Kate Raworth; and 6 scientific papers on circularity. This course teaches several skills that can be applied in a practical context and in further career or study.
Creativity: The course will encourage students to identify and reflect on examples of circularity in nature. This will help them to think of strategies for circularity and to recognize existing instances of circularity in their home region as well as abroad. It will also nurture creative ideas about new possibilities for circularity. This creative idea-generation skill can be applied to any situation that requires new ideas but in particular in contexts where biomimicry is useful.
Understanding the circular economy and the donut economy: The course will teach students to explain the reasons for a transition towards the circular economy and the strategies for achieving circularity. This will be increasingly useful in a European context where governments are aiming to achieve circularity by 2050.
Self-reflection: students will be encouraged to reflect on the most effective and motivating social innovations for achieving a socially just and environmentally sustainable circular economy. This requires self-reflection, to distill what career path is personally motivating to the student. This can help them in their future career or study choices.
Program Outcome
At the end of the course, students will:
- Understand the reasons for the transition toward the circular economy
- Understand the different strategies for material circularity
- Analyse social (economic, political, cultural, market, regulatory) barriers and enablers of the circular economy
- Analyse social innovations for circularity
- Create social innovations for circularity
- Evaluate to what extent social innovations for circularity generate social justice and environmental sustainability