Student engagement, education and teaching
Building the next generation of circular economy scholars, practitioners and citizens through teaching and collaboration
We have growing portfolio of undergraduate/post graduate teaching and life-long learning and educational to engage, support and shape critical understanding of the key ideas around the Circular Economy which promotes practical, actionable steps that can be taken whilst a student, entering employment or finding your way through life.
Examples of our current portfolio include:
The Exeter MBA
| Module title |
Designing a Better Future for All |
|---|---|
| Module code | MBAM961 |
| Module lecturer |
Module description
This core module brings circular economy into the real world through practical, current challenges from business practitioners drawn across diverse sectors and applications. Specific challenges are given to students who work in teams to develop and present back solutions to the business. A structured programme of workshops, lectures, seminars, networking events and design studios against tight deadlines focuses attention on how to translate CE into practical solutions, and how to develop a positive business case to make the shift from concept to implementation. Past projects from IKEA, PepsiCo, Philips and DS Smith have been taken forward by these businesses who commented on the high quality and impactful outcomes from this module.
“The week-long challenge was a truly extraordinary experience. What really inspired us during the course of the challenge was DS Smith’s dedication towards a sustainable future. Our project focused on a high consumer engagement section of e-commerce which was returns, so consumer experience was at the centre of our solution.
It was promising to see that our team attempted to tackle this Herculean task that DS Smith is keen on undertaking and that we emerged victorious. This challenge was an incredible opportunity for us to deepen our understanding of the circular economy and to put our knowledge into action.”
Ankita Mishra
Exeter MBA student
BSc Sustainable Energy Futures
| Module title |
Circular Enterprise Economy |
|---|---|
| Module code | BEP2210 |
| Module lecturer |
Module description
This module will enable students to investigate sustainability as a theme that crosses subject boundaries. The module is intended to form and frame a learning path for developing knowledge and understanding of the challenge of transitioning to a circular enterprise economy with an emphasis on socially responsible, environmentally sustainable business models. Models that move away from the straight profit maximising, growth strategies and the pressure of business activity on the planet and society raises many contentious issues which are explored in the module.
"This module was the start of a life-changing story for me. It opened my eyes to a new way of thinking and changed my discourse when talking about sustainability from a sacrifice to an opportunity. This was truly the catalyst for me to pursue further studies and a career in Circular Economy.”
Mathys Reiss
MSc Sustainable Engineering
| Module title |
Circular Economy Business and Enterprise |
|---|---|
| Module code | EM3059 |
| Module lecturer |
Module description
This interdisciplinary module explores business and enterprise opportunities within a “circular economy” and provides insights into the systems thinking, the circular-digital nexus, circular business models, and their socio-economic and environmental implications.
These insights are generated through discussions on, for example, a linear, take-make-waste economic model, and business, community and policy involvements in circular initiatives. Students undertake case work analysis to apply, test and evaluate how CE works (or not) in practice and the key challenges and enablers in making the shift from linear to circular.
"I've thoroughly enjoyed the module and it has truly been one of my favourite modules this year. I find often that module content doesn't often present transferrable skills and knowledge very well but this module I know will be useful with regard to how integral circular principles and systems thinking are to so many industries and how the economy will operate in the future."
Marcus Isherwood
Student internships
The Exeter Centre for Circular Economy provide opportunities for student interns to work on real world Circular Economy challenges; they can join us as part of the project team on a portfolio of research activities, short term internships and/or paid mini projects. Recent examples include students working on a project with the remit of undertaking a Circular Economy Gap Analysis; reviewing University of Exeter’s progress on the adoption and implementation of their Circular Economy policies, tracking and tracing the end of life electronic waste to determine potential alternative, better Circular Economy inspired approaches and, working with the student sustainability board to embed Circular Economy across student facing services and activities such as end of year Halls of Residence or rented property clear out.
"My involvement in the CE Gap Analysis project with the University of Exeter has been an incredibly insightful experience. Through this initiative, I’ve had the privilege to actively shape the University’s journey toward sustainable and responsible resource management of WEEE. Engaging in thought-provoking dialogues with key stakeholders, I’ve worked on bridging the widening gap between our existing linear economy and the promising circular model. This journey has been both challenging and fulfilling, and I take pride in knowing that our efforts hold the promise of tangible, transformative impact for the future!"
Sophie Jackson
BSc Business, University of Exeter
Contact us
If you would like to know more about our education and teaching activities or opportunities to be involved then please contact us.
