Education in circular economy at the Finnish universities of applied sciences
Laasasenaho, Kari; Lauhanen, Risto; Herranen, Aino; Knuuttila, Kirsi; Tyni, Sanna; Suominen, Jenni; Nurmi, Piia; Viluksela, Pentti (2022)
Seinäjoen ammattikorkeakoulu
2022
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2022022520824
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2022022520824
Tiivistelmä
Circular economy (CE) is an alternative to a fossil resource-based linear economy. Transformation towards a CE additionally requires reformation at all levels of education. Due to the close connection of the topic with working life, the authors of this study wanted to study the role of CE education at the Finnish universities of applied sciences (UAS).
The status of CE education at the Finnish UAS’s was studied using a questionnaire among the UAS staff members in 2018, and by summarizing the CE education work done in the national project titled “Circular economy competence to universities of applied sciences“ in 2018–2020.
According to the results of the survey, CE was moderately known amongst the staff members of the Finnish UASs in 2018. Majority of the courses in CE were available in the fields of Civil Engineering, Natural Resources and Business Administration since most of the respondents were working in these fields. Most of the courses and programs were provided at the Bachelor level, and the average number of credits (ECTS) ranged between 3 and 15. However, until the end of 2020, CE education developed significantly, meaning that there were an increasing number of CE teaching methods, learning environments and materials available at the Finnish UAS.
The study provides a picture of the current state of the teaching of CE at the Finnish UASs and helps to understand the general process that has taken place at higher education institutions concerning CE education. CE has become a recognized concept, but the integration of CE is still an ongoing process at the Finnish UASs.
The status of CE education at the Finnish UAS’s was studied using a questionnaire among the UAS staff members in 2018, and by summarizing the CE education work done in the national project titled “Circular economy competence to universities of applied sciences“ in 2018–2020.
According to the results of the survey, CE was moderately known amongst the staff members of the Finnish UASs in 2018. Majority of the courses in CE were available in the fields of Civil Engineering, Natural Resources and Business Administration since most of the respondents were working in these fields. Most of the courses and programs were provided at the Bachelor level, and the average number of credits (ECTS) ranged between 3 and 15. However, until the end of 2020, CE education developed significantly, meaning that there were an increasing number of CE teaching methods, learning environments and materials available at the Finnish UAS.
The study provides a picture of the current state of the teaching of CE at the Finnish UASs and helps to understand the general process that has taken place at higher education institutions concerning CE education. CE has become a recognized concept, but the integration of CE is still an ongoing process at the Finnish UASs.