Think Green

Learn to understand, prevent, mitigate and remediate environmental problems and to create sustainable (and remunerative) solutions with the aim to reduce our impact/ecological footprint on Earth.

This Minor is designed to provide the students with information and analytic skills that are necessary to understand the complex issues that challenge our ability to develop sustainable systems now and in the future, as we are living in an era of unprecedented human impact over nature and resources, where the technological revolution brought us to a point where it may seem that our daily lives are not directly connected to natural laws.

The students will acquire knowledge to understand, prevent, mitigate and remediate environmental problems and to create sustainable (and remunerative) solutions with the aim to reduce our impact/ecological footprint on Earth. With this new understanding or eco-literacy the students will be able to think critically and take up environmental sustainable decisions, which may include transforming environmental problems into business solutions. In order to reach these goals, three modules of 5 EC each on Environmental Sciences, The Economics of Sustainability, and Bio-based Economy (as a sustainable solution to merge environmental sustainability and business) will be implemented in a holistic and integrated manner. The modules are designed in an interactive and active learning format (problem-based learning) and have a strong “hands-on” approach, with links to real case-studies in Rotterdam and in the Netherlands.

The content is of special relevance to future green business managers, environmental economists, conservation and environmental scientists, social scientists, ecologists, designers, planners and entrepreneurs that will work for the transition from a fossil-based to a circular economy.

• understand the principles of ecosystem organization and functioning, environmental sustainability and resilience;

• analyse and estimate the impact of environmental problems on natural ecosystems;

• identify approaches to mitigate and reduce environmental issues;

• have a clear picture of the concepts of green growth and resource dependencies/reutilization, including the recycling and cascading of biomass;

• be familiar with the theoretical conceptualisation and operationalisation of sustainability in Economics;

• understand how circular economic structures can be created;

• be acquainted with institutions, policies, governance and regulations for a sustainable economy;

• have a proper knowledge of the recent technological developments in the service of sustainability in the fields of energy (including biofuels), materials (including bioplastics), biotechnology, waste processing and agriculture;

• start thinking in systems by acquiring the basic principles of industrial ecology and regenerative cities.

Modules:

1. Biobased Economy
2. Environmental Sciences
3. The Economics of Sustainability

Method of eximination:

1. A final written exam, covering the content of the three modules;
2. Final assignments, one per module;
3. Professional behaviour. In order to maintain the professional behaviour unaffected, a student can skip one mandatory session per module only.

Composition of final grade:
The final grade will be calculated by combining the single grades of these components.
The composition of the final grade will include the combination of these individual components:

• A final written exam: 45%. The final written exam will cover the content of the three modules;
• Final assignments: 45% in total. Each single module has a final group assignment. The final assignment grade will merge the grades of each single assignment (15% each).
• Professional behaviour: 10%. In order to maintain the professional behaviour unaffected, a student can skip one mandatory session per module only.

• Open to max 40 students;
• The teaching method includes problem-based learning (PBL) sessions, lectures and workshops;
• The Minor requires a full-time dedication : we discourage the students to enrol supplementary courses running in the same period;
• The Minor will be entirely conducted in English language;
• The attendance to PBL sessions and workshops is strictly mandatory ;
• Apart from the mandatory sessions, attendance to lectures is highly suggested, and a considerable amount of self-study during each week is needed (28-30 hours on average);
• The Minor will follow the EUR calendar; therefore it will start on 4th September 2023 with a mandatory session on PBL educational system.