6 EC
Semester 1, period 2
5512CIEC6Y
During this course we will start by observing the linear economy and the current state of it. We will try to identify the externalities of this economy and their influence on the world around us. After looking at the status quo, we will study a proposed solution: the circular economy, one of the solutions that was presented to solve the problems in the linear economy. We will study this solution, its benefits and its flaws in detail. We will also study other proposed solutions (such as doughnut economics and the biobased economy) and will identify the differences between them. After that we'll look at ways of measuring circularity and the differences between circularity and degrowth. The students will analyse specific cases individually as well as in a group assignment. At the end of a course, we’ll apply our knowledge about the circular economy on the food sector.
Will become available on Canvas
Lectures
During the 7 lectures in this course, the field of the circular economy and related fields will be explained thoroughly. During the last two lectures, we'll look into plastics as a relevant material.
Seminars
During the seminars, the content of the lectures and the corresponding literature will be discussed in depth in smaller groups.
Presentations
Once during the course, the students will teach each other about a specific field related to the circular economy.
Self-study
A lot of self-study is necessary during this course. For a 6EC course, we have a relatively small amount of contact moments. The course uses quite a lot of literature (books, articles and documentaries), that will need to be read by the students.
Working independently on a project
Much of the time available for this course will be spent on a group assignment in a group of 3 or 4. The group assignment entails an analysis concerning the circular economy.
Supervision
Two meetings with the tutorial teacher will take place to supervise the progress of the group assignments. If possible, these meetings will take place during the tutorials.
|
Component |
Amount |
Duration |
Hour |
|
Reading literature |
1 |
40 |
40 |
|
Attendance lectures |
7 |
2 |
14 |
|
Preparation tutorials |
7 |
2 |
14 |
|
Presentation |
1 |
6 |
6 |
|
Tutorials |
7 |
2 |
14 |
|
Learning & doing exam |
1 |
40 |
40 |
|
Group assignment |
1 |
40 |
40 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
168 |
Additional requirements for this course:
Attendance is compulsory for tutorials: through your participation, you actively contribute to the vibrant learning community we foster. Your contribution and attendance largely determine the quality of the educational activities and your chances of successfully completing the course. Furthermore, the tutorials mainly focus on class discussions and group assignments. The material is not just limited to literature, but also involves articulating and applying the ideas, theories, and concepts from the literature. Therefore, the quality of the tutorials largely depends on the attendance, preparation, and active participation of every student.
Attendance at the lectures is strongly recommended. For tutorials there is a strict attendance rule: During the whole course you may miss max. 2 tutorials.
| Item and weight | Details |
|
Final grade | |
|
1 (100%) Tentamen digitaal |
The exam will consist of open questions. Per question there is a maximum amount of points. All the points are added up. When you have 63% of the points, you get a pass (5.5). Below that, the grade goes down linearly, above that, the grade goes up linearly too.
|
Component |
Deadline |
Weight |
Minimum grade |
Compensable |
Resit |
Learning goal |
|
Presentation assignment |
16-11-2023 |
10% |
NA |
Yes |
No |
Describe the difference between linear and circular economy, as well as between circular economy and other similar models. |
|
Group assignment (groups of 4) |
8-12-2023 |
40% |
NA |
Yes |
Yes, individual |
Apply the theory of the circular economy on a case assignment. |
|
Final exam |
21-12-2023 |
50% |
5 |
Yes ( but only if the grade is 5 or higher) |
Yes |
Come up with examples of circular practices. |
|
Resit
|
30-01-2024 |
50% |
5 |
NA |
No |
Come up with examples of circular practices. |
An average grade of 5,5 or higher is required to pass the course. Note that at IIS/FNWI final grades are rounded to whole or half digits behind the decimal point (8.2 becomes 8.0). Final grades between 5 and 6 will not be awarded (5.5 becomes 6).
In case the course structure did not change fundamentally from previous year, the IIS uses the rule that course components that were passed with a sufficient grade ánd meeting the attendance requirements ánd practical exams, can be used for one year. In case students want to finish the course after two years, they need to meet the same requirements as the first year.
| Passed component in... | Last year | 2+ years before |
|---|---|---|
| Attendance requirements | Stays valid, as long as student contacts Tim Bulters before 01-10-2022 | No longer valid |
| Final exam | Sufficient grade stays valid in case student contacts Tim Bulters before 01-10-2022 | No longer valid. |
| Group assignment | Sufficient grade stays valid in case student contacts Tim Bulters before 01-10-2022 | No longer valid.. |
Up to 20 working days after the announcement of the result students have the right of inspection of their work (all forms of assessment). There will be a meeting organised on Thursday the 11th of January at 11:00.
Please note: you lose the right of feedback from the examiner when you don’t attend the Collective Assessment Evaluation without good reasons. For more information about the right of inspection, please refer to OER part A FNWI, article 4.9.
During the course there will be a small assignment, that will form 10% of the final grade of the course: a presentation during a tutorial about one of the other models, similar to circular economy (such as doughnut economics).
There is also a large final assignment, that will be executed in a group of 3 or 4, in which a case is performed.
The final exam is taken individually and will cover all the content of the course.
Feedback on all assignments will be given through Canvas or email. This grade will make up 40% of the final grade.
This course adheres to the general rules on ‘Fraud and Plagiarism` as set by the UvA. Students are expected to have familiarized themselves with these rules.
The terms Fraud or Plagiarism are to be interpreted as the copying of the work of peer-student and/or the copying of (scientific) sources of information, without explicitly referring to its source.
Fraud/plagiarism is forbidden and actively checked by staff. When one is suspected of having committed fraud/plagiarism, the exam committee of beta-gamma and future planet studies will be informed. The highest punishment for fraud/plagiarism involves the student to be disallowed to partake of any exams or examination activities within the future planet studies programme, for the duration of a whole academic year, or may even face dismissal from the programme. More information about Fraud and Plagiarism can be found at: www.uva.nl/plagiaat
|
Week |
Topic |
Examination |
|
1 |
Linear Economy and history of circularity |
|
|
2 |
Circular Economy We look at a proposed solution to the downsides of the linear economy: the circular economy. First we dive into the history of this concept and then we look at what this term means in this day and age. |
Presentation during tutorial |
|
3 |
Measuring circularity If you start to implement circular measures, it’s important to measure whether these action are having any effect. This is what we tackle in the third lecture. |
|
|
4 |
Critique to the circular economy Circularity as a proposed solution to the problems of the linear economy has its weaknesses. This week we’ll discuss them and see what the most important arguments against a CE are. |
|
|
5 |
Circularity and Degrowth During this week, we will look at the similarities and differences between the circular economy and degrowth. Can they exist separately and/or together? |
|
|
6 |
Exploration Plastics Sector – 1 During the final two weeks, we will dive into the plastics sector and apply what we have learned about circularity to the plastics sector. We will look at the plastics sector from different perspectives. |
Deadline group assignment |
|
7 |
Exploration Plastics Sector – 2 During the final two weeks, we will dive into the plastics sector and apply what we have learned about circularity to the plastics sector. We will look at the plastics sector from different perspectives. |
|
|
8 |
|
Exam |
Teaching and Examination Regulations
The IIS elective and honours courses are covered by the examination board and the OER of the Bachelor Beta-gamma. Teaching and Examination Regulations (OER) are published annually and lay down all the rules and guidelines regarding assessment and examination which the IIS pursues. The OER can be found via https://student.uva.nl/en/topics/teaching-and-examination-regulations-and-other-regulations. Students and contractors who follow courses at the IIS can draw appeal to the Board of Appeals Board (COBEX).
Social safety
We are committed to providing a safe learning environment. If you are experiencing undesirable behaviour or unsafe situations you can contact the study advisor of your education program, one of UvA’s confidential advisors or the coordinators of the IIS elective program (via keuzeonderwijs-iis@uva.nl). More information and contact details of confidential advisors: https://student.uva.nl/en/topics/help-with-undesirable-behaviour
In 2020 we taught the second version of the course 'Circular Economy', online due to corona. The course was evaluated very well with an assessment of 8,1 for the second year in a row. In 2021 we didn't do an official evaluation, because of an error in the evaluation system.
The students appreciated the following aspects the most:
Next we will list some of the suggestions that were given by the students and the ajustments we made to tackle the issues.
| Suggestion | Adjustments |
| More critical views on the circular economy | In the lectures and tutorials, we will focus more on critiques on the Circular Economy with the fifth lecture specifically about this topic. |
| Teach more lectures yourself | We will do more of the lectures ourselves with the teacher team. |
| More guidance with the final assignment | Each groups will have two private meetings with the tutorial teacher about the assignment |
| Less gray literature and more scientific literature | Three extra scientific articles have been added to the literature. |
Course coordinator: Tim Bulters – t.l.bulters@uva.nl
Tutorial Teachers: