Course detail

Sustainability and Circular Economics

FP-uceDEAcad. year: 2020/2021

The course “Sustainability and Circular Economics” is conceived as an interdisciplinary field, synthesizing the latest findings from the theory of sustainability and other related disciplines, especially from the circular economy. The aim of the course is to develop knowledge of economic, environmental, social and corporate governance aspects of the enterprise in relation to sustainability and circular economics on the basis of interdisciplinary scientific and research activities, and to provide students with the latest scientific findings and knowledge, as well as the skills needed to address specific problems of enterprises in the global economic environment.

Language of instruction

English

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Learning outcomes of the course unit

Not applicable.

Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Not applicable.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

The lessons are based on controlled individual work of doctoral students and involve the elaboration of a scientific project. The exam will be in the form of a debate on the subject assigned. It includes the defence of a scientific project, methodologically related to the thematic focus of the dissertation.

Course curriculum

The course “Sustainability and Circular Economics” is conceived as an interdisciplinary field, synthesizing the latest findings from the theory of sustainability and other related disciplines, especially from the circular economy. The aim of the course is to develop knowledge of economic, environmental, social and corporate governance aspects of the enterprise in relation to sustainability and circular economics on the basis of interdisciplinary scientific and research activities, and to provide students with the latest scientific findings and knowledge, as well as the skills needed to address specific problems of enterprises in the global economic environment. Objectives of the course “Sustainability and Circular Economics” include the theoretical basis of selected knowledge areas and the systematic acquisition of necessary and practical scientific methods and procedures suitable for the given area of study. The course contents are divided into two thematic areas: sustainability and circular economics.

In sustainability, the framework of the content consists of fundamental topics, such as sustainability of an enterprise and social business, but - above all - sustainability with a focus on scientific approaches from the perspective of an interdisciplinary approach. The basis of the scientific approach to sustainability includes theoretical approaches of sustainability management, case studies on sustainability, tools and methods that can be used to manage sustainability of an enterprise, including analyses of causes, structures and processes of economic, environmental, social and corporate governance aspects; by this, an integrated solution of sustainability for enterprises develops and creates integrative environmental, social and economic approaches to sustainability management as well as social business. The aim is to teach students to use scientific methods and procedures necessary to formulate and analyse the sustainability of an enterprise and social business.

In the part concerning circular economy, the objective of the subject is to familiarize students with theoretical approaches of circularity, with selected empirical methods and with exact methods that use one-dimensional and multidimensional statistical methods. These make it possible to obtain background materials that the students can rely on when elaborating a scientific project, for example in the context of the proposal of a concept and creation of a model when managing backflows in connection with circular economy. The economic benefit of circularity in business is also a key.

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

Objectives of the course “Sustainability and Circular Economics” include the theoretical basis of selected knowledge areas and the systematic acquisition of necessary and practical scientific methods and procedures suitable for the given area of study. The course contents are divided into two thematic areas: sustainability and circular economics.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

Not applicable.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

BROCKETT, A. M., REZAEE, Z. Corporate Sustainability: Integrating Performance and Reporting. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2015. ISBN 978-11-181-2236-5.
HEINRICHS, H., MARTENS, P., MICHELSEN, G., WIEK, A. Sustainability Science An Introduction, Springer, 2016. ISBN 978-94-017-7242-6.
CHESHIRE, D. Building Revolutions: Applying the Circular Economy to the Built Environment. RIBA Publishing, 2016. ISBN 978-18-594-6645-2.
LASZLO, CH. The Sustainable Company: How to Create Lasting Value through Social and Environmental Performance. Island Press, 2003. ISBN 978-15-972-6018-3.
WEETMAN, C. A Circular Economy Handbook for Business and Supply Chains. 2016. ISBN 978-074-947-6755.

Recommended reading

AZEVEDO, S. G.,‎ MATIAS, C. Corporate Sustainability: The New Pillar of the Circular Economy (Business Issues, Competition and Entrepreneurship). Nova Science Pub Inc; UK ed. Edition, 2017. ISBN 978-15-361-0730-2.
GALLAUD, D., LAPERCHE, B. Circular Economy, Industrial Ecology and Short Supply Chain. Wiley-ISTE, 2016. ISBN 978-18-482-1879-6.
LACY, P., RUTQVIST, J. Waste to Wealth: The Circular Economy Advantage. Palgrave Macmillan UK, 2015. ISBN 978-11-375-3068-4.
SCHALTEGGER,‎ S. Sustainability Reporting in the Light of Business Environments: Linking Business Environment, Strategy, Communication and Accounting. CSM, Centre for Sustainability Management, 2012. ISBN 978-39-426-3815-9.
SCHALTEGGER, ‎S., WAGNER, M. Managing the Business Case for Sustainability: The Integration of Social, Environmental and Economic Performance. Green Publishing, 2006. ISBN 978-18-747-1995-3.
SCHALTEGGER,‎ S., WINDOLPH,‎ S. E., HARMS,‎ D., HÖRISCH, J. Corporate Sustainability in International Comparison: State of Practice, Opportunities and Challenges (Eco-Efficiency in Industry and Science). Springer, 2014. ISBN 978-33-190-6226-6.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme DSP-CME Doctoral 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    2 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional
  • Programme DSP-CME-KS Doctoral 2 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional
    2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional

Type of course unit

 

Guided consultation

10 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Guided consultation in combined form of studies

10 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer