Circular economy in integrated product and production development education

Abstract

<p>Global operations are accelerating the diffusion of technology and the pace of innovation. The increased demand for ICT and problem-solving skills requires new methods and tools to support continuous learning paradigm. The emergence of circular economy (CE) paradigm is demanding the companies to change and take broader role in the value chain. Within these new value-chains, the manufacturer plays central role re-designing products for multiple uses and proposing new consumption patterns to customers through innovative services covering the current and future life-cycles of the product. This new level of complexity and interconnection puts a pressure to the education system, which traditionally is highly focused on its own priority areas. The paper will present an approach to speed uptake of CE business potential by introducing an education module created in collaboration with industry and academia to support the creation of new talents in the field of manufacturing industry.</p>