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Course

MLEDØK303 Circular Economy, Sustainability, and Strategic Governance

Credits (ECTS):15

Responsible faculty:Handelshøyskolen

Course responsible:Stephen Sirris

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Norwegian

Limits of class size:45

Course frequency:Annually

Nominal workload:375 hours

Teaching and exam period:Course has teaching/assessment in the autumn parallel. Offered for the first time in autumn 2026.

About this course

The course focuses on sustainability and the sustainable development goals as the pivot for developing businesses and their strategic management. Circular economy, aimed at recycling and reuse, is designed to be an alternative to today's linear economy. The course emphasizes how organizations can take strategic steps to transform their activities in a more circular and sustainable direction. Value configurations, business models, and innovation in organizations are central themes for changing and developing organizations. Furthermore, the course delves into strategy implementation through strategic management accounting. Key topics in the course include sustainable business models, value configurations, strategic cost drivers, and strategy implementation.

Learning outcome

Upon completing the course, the student will have the following overall learning outcomes defined in knowledge, skills, and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

  • has in-depth knowledge of linear and circular economy and can explain the difference between them
  • has knowledge of how management accounting and related tools can support the realization of strategy
  • has good knowledge of strategic profitability analyses
  • has knowledge of various strategic directions, circular business models, and can identify and assess different types of business models from a sustainability perspective

Skills

The student

  • can prepare decision-relevant information and conduct strategic profitability analyses
  • can analyze and assess economic, environmental, and social aspects of circular business models
  • can conduct a mapping and develop strategies for implementing circular economy principles in organizations

General competence

The student

  • can evaluate different strategic choices and their contribution to strategic goal achievement
  • can communicate effectively with various stakeholders about sustainable concepts and solutions
  • can critically reflect on organizations' strategic choices in addressing sustainability issues
  • has insight into the connections between strategy, management accounting indicators, and goal achievement

  • Learning activities

    The course entails web lecures, seminars with group work, case work and practical exercises.

  • Teaching support

    The learning platform Canvas.

  • Syllabus

    Geissdoerfer, M., Savaget, P., Bocken, N. M., & Hultink, E. J. (2017). The Circular Economy-A new sustainability paradigm? Journal of cleaner production, 143, 757-768.

    Kirchherr, J., Reike, D., & Hekkert, M. (2017). Conceptualizing the circular economy: An analysis of 114 definitions. Resources, conservation and recycling, 127, 221-232.

    Korhonen, J., Honkasalo, A., & Seppälä, J. (2018). Circular economy: the concept and its limitations. Ecological economics, 143, 37-46.

    Murray, A., Skene, K., & Haynes, K. (2017). The circular economy: an interdisciplinary exploration of the concept and application in a global context. Journal of business ethics, 140, 369-380.

    Osterwalder, A., & Pigneur, Y. (2010). Business model generation. John Wiley & Sons.

    Osterwalder, A., Pigneur, Y., Papadakos, P., Bernarda, G., Papadakos, T., & Smith, A. (2014). Value proposition design. John Wiley & Sons.

    Ricciotti, F. (2019). From value chain to value network: A systematic literature review. Management Review Quarterly. doi.org/ 10.1007/s11301-019-00164-7

    Strøm, R. Ø., Holving, P.A., Bragelien, I. og Hoff, K.G. (2021). Strategisk økonomistyring. Universitetsforlaget.

  • Prerequisites

    Bachelor's degree in health-related fields or equivalent, as well as a minimum of three years of relevant work experience.

  • Recommended prerequisites

    -

  • Assessment method

    Home exam 14 days.

    Grade rule: Passed/failed.

  • About use of AI

    Assessment

    K3 = full use of AI. Us of AI is premitted, but must be in accordance with the guidelines for use of artificial intelligence (AI) at NMBU.

    Students are expected to relate the content on circular economy and sustainability to their own organization in the exam assignment. The use of AI will be expected in the general part of the assignment, but since this should be related to their own organization, there is no reason to further limit its use. The assignment must include information on which program(s) were used and how the program was used.

    Mandatory activities

    K3 = full use of AI. Us of AI is permitted, but must be in accordance with the guidelines for use of artificial intelligence (AI) at NMBU.

    Students are expected to relate the content on circular economy and sustainability to their own organization in the exam assignment. The use of AI will be expected in the general part of the assignment, but since this should be related to their own organization, there is no reason to further limit its use. The assignment must include information on which program(s) were used and how the program was used.

    Descriptions of AI-category codes.

  • Examiner scheme

    External sensor ensures the quality of the exam.

  • Mandatory activity

    Attendance of 75% of the course's campus-based and digital sessions is required. Work requirements include a reflection note and quizzes to be answered. Approved mandatory activity from previous years is valid when retaking the course.

  • Notes

    -

  • Teaching hours

    Online lessons during the teaching period, two campus-based sessions of two days each, and four digital session days.

  • Preferential right

    -

  • Reduction of credits

    BIOEC360 Circular economy in biobased organizations (5 ECTS).

  • Admission requirements

    Study rights to the executive master's program in sustainable leadership and economics or study rights to continuing education courses in economics and leadership.