Planning and Development (2024)

Welcome to Sustainability, Circularity, and Product Policies

Organizer: Rikke Dorothea Huulgaard

Lecturers: Associate Professor Rikke Dorothea Huulgaard, Associate Professor Anja Marie Bundgaard, Professor  Arne Remmen, Assistant Professor Heidi Simone Kristensen

ECTS: 4

Date/Time: 6-8 November 2024 & online 5 December 2024

Place: Rendsburggade 14, 9000 Aalborg. Room: 3.429.

Deadline: 15 October 2024

Max no. Of participants: 20

Description: With the EU Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan, EU has set up an elaborated roadmap for tackling the climate crisis. The product policies are an important part of the roadmap, and the scope is currently being broadened extensively, meaning that all products on the European market, with only a few exemptions, will be covered by minimum performance requirements. These product policies will therefore have a major impact on all sectors, all companies who bring products to the European market, all authorities involved in the implementation and enforcement of the legislation, and consumers.

The aim of this course is to introduce PhD candidates to product policies and how these can help the sustainable and circular transition, with a special focus on the EU. The course provides PhD candidates with an in-depth engagement in key elements within product policies, the practice of implementation and efficiency of the policies.

The course introduces the PhD candidates to the core of sustainable and circular product policies, the dynamics of different policy instruments. Participants will be introduced to current/recent directives, regulations, and proposals as well as current issues and debates surrounding the policies.

The course features a mix of onsite and online lectures, group work, peer group discussions and company perspectives.

The course is relevant for PhD students from a wide range of areas such as law, industry, design, environmental science, engineering.

Day 1: Introduction to EU’s product policy, Green Deal and Circular Economy Action Plan. The first day will provide participants with a historic overview of the development of the landscape of product policies, sustainability, and circularity. The day will also entail an introduction to the vast array of EU product policies, such as the Ecodesign Directive, Energy labelling, WEEE Directive, Batteries Regulation, Packaging Regulation, Ecolabels, Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, and the extended and the individual producer responsibility.

Day 2: Introduction and deep dive into the new Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) with a special focus on the Digital Product Passport. The ESPR will replace the Ecodesign Directive and will cover almost all products on the EU market, setting requirements to support a circular transition. The digital product passport is a key tool to support circularity and presents both challenges and opportunities for industries.

Day 3: The role of public procurement in circular economy. The third day will provide an overview of procurement regulation, mandatory and voluntary policy tools, strategic public procurement, green public procurement, circular public procurement, and discuss policy translation and implementation in practice. The final session on the day will consist of a paper workshop, supporting the participants in developing research and paper ideas.

Day 4: (Online session) Following the onsite session, all participants must submit an extended abstract for discussion in peer groups. The online session will be moderated by AAU, but participants are expected to prepare feedback and engage in discussions.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites, other than an interest in environmental product policies. The Course is relevant for PhD students from a wide range of areas such as law, industry, design, environmental science, engineering.

Important information concerning PhD courses:  We have experienced problems with no-show for both project and general courses.  Therefore, the Doctoral School has decided to introduce a no-show fee of DKK 3000 for each course where the student does not show up. Cancellations are accepted no later than 2 weeks before start of the course. Registered illness is of course an acceptable reason for not showing up. Furthermore, all courses open for registration approximately four months before start. This can hopefully also provide new students a chance to register for courses during the year. We look forward to your registrations.

Welcome to the course "Geographical Data and Models for Decision-Making". 

Organizer:  Jamal Jokar Arsanjani (jja@plan.aau.dk), Ida Maria Bonnevie (idarei@plan.aau.dk), Irma Kveladze (ikv@plan.aau.dk)

Lecturers: Ida Maria Bonnevie, Jamal Jokar Arsanjani, Irma Kveladze

Location: A.C. Meyers Vænge 15, Copenhagen, Room 2.3.044

ECTS: 3

Date/Time:  16-18 October 2024, 9:00-15:00

Deadline: 25 September 2024

Max no. Of participants: 20

Description: Optimal and efficient Land use and Sea use planning requires developing spatial decision support systems in which various geographical, attribute, quantitate and quantitative datasets can be integrated and overlaid. Doing so will allow the relevant decision-makers and stakeholders to contribute to the decision-making process while being able to trace the entire decision-making process and interactively visualise the outcomes of different scenarios. 

This PhD course aims to introduce the PhD students to various methodologies for designing and implementing spatial decision support systems for land use planning and maritime spatial planning while considering climate change and its futuristic effects on nature, society, and land and marine ecosystems.

The course will include hands-on examples brought up to the course by the participants and will provide them with an overview of existing decision support systems, and discuss relevant evaluation criteria and decision alternatives and the uncertainties associated with them. 

The course will cover the following topics:

• Data-Driven Decision Making, Typology of Decision-Making & Scenario Building 

• (Geo)Data: Data Repositories, Metadata, Citizen Science

• Data Quality and Harmonisation & MAUP Problems

• Data Visualization & Interpolation

• Map Algebra

• Cumulative Impact Assessment 

• Normalisation and Weighting Methods, Stakeholder Analysis

• Multi-Criteria Evaluation and Cost Surface

• Sensitivity Analysis

• Predictive Modelling and the Role of AI

Before the course, each PhD student must deliver a description of their PhD work and scientific reflections on their potential use of spatial decision-support systems.

After the course, the PhD students must submit a draft paper (4-6 pages) on their own use of spatial decision support systems.

Prerequisites: the ability and passion to solve societal challenges using decision support systems in a data-driven manner. 

Important information concerning PhD courses: We have long experienced problems with 'no-show' for both project and general courses. It has now reached a point where we are forced to take action. Therefore, the Doctoral School has decided to introduce a no-show fee of DKK 3000 for each course where the student does not show up. Cancellations are accepted no later than 2 weeks before the start of the course. Registered illness is, of course, an acceptable reason for not showing up on those days.

Welcome to Mixed Methods

Organizer: Professor Xiangyun Du

Lecturers: Aida Guerra

ECTS: 3

Date/Time: September 25-27 2024

Deadline: September 11 2024

Max no. Of participants: 25

Location: Thomas Manns Vej 25, 9220 Aalborg. Room A.121

Description:

The course intends to support participants to develop interdisciplinary inquiry skills by analysing needs for mixed methods research and designing mixed methods research using diverse strategies. A problem and project-based learning approach is adopted in this course, involving participants working in group on real-life issues identified on their own. The team-based project work is throughout the course which will lead to an outcome/product of a collectively written research proposal to be submitted. During the course, a panel discussion is organised inviting multiple scholars within AAU and internationally to discuss mixed-method design from diverse angels. Course assessment includes a collaboratively written mixed methods research proposal two weeks after the course (3-5 pages). The research proposal shall employ a design involving minimal two phases sequentially. The design shall preferably illustrate the use of a theoretical lens, such as the complexity theory, a feminist perspective, etc. The design may give priority to either qualitative data or quantitative data collection and include certain considerations on prospective data analysis. A template is provided for inspiration. Course activities: - Presentations by course organisers, - pre-course reading, - a panel discussion is organised inviting multiple scholars within AAU and internationally to discuss mixed-method design from diverse angels- progressive group work activities during the course including reviewing published works and working on one's own research design which shall be submitted as an outcome (research proposal)

Intended learning outcomes:  Participants are expected to 1) analyse needs for mixed methods research, and 2) design mixed methods research using diverse strategies.

Assessment:

Submission of a collaboratively written mixed methods research proposal by Sep15, 2024 (3-4 pages). The research proposal shall employ a design involving minimal two phases sequentially. The design shall preferably illustrate the use of a theoretical lens, such as the complexity theory, a feminist perspective, etc. The design may give priority to either qualitative data or quantitative data collection and include certain considerations on prospective data analysis. A template is provided for inspiration.

Course activities:

A problem and project-based learning approach is adopted in this course, involving participants working in group on real-life issues identified on their own. The team-based project work is throughout the course which will lead to an outcome/product of a collectively written research proposal to be submitted by Sep15, 2024.   

Important information concerning PhD courses: We have over some time experienced problems with no-show for both project and general courses. It has now reached a point where we are forced to take action. Therefore, the Doctoral School has decided to introduce a no-show fee of DKK 3000 for each course where the student does not show up. Cancellations are accepted no later than 2 weeks before start of the course. Registered illness is of course an acceptable reason for not showing up on those days. Furthermore, all courses open for registration approximately four months before start. This can hopefully also provide new students a chance to register for courses during the year. We look forward to your registrations.

Welcome to Summer School in Applied Circular Economy

Organizer: Massimo Pizzol (Prof.)

Lecturers: TECH4CE guest Prof. Nancy.Bocken (Maastricht Univ.), Melanie Jaeger-Erben (TU Brandenburg), Ruth Mugge (TU Delft) TECH4E members Assoc. Prof. Mette Alberg Mosgaard, Assoc. Prof. Michael Søgaard Jørgensen, Prof. Massimo Pizzol, Assoc. Prof. Louise Møller Haase, Assoc. Prof. Reza Tadayoni, Assoc. Prof. Bent Thomsen + other colleagues from TECH.

ECTS: 5

Date/Time: Six online sessions in the period April – June 2024 + three full days onsite in September 2024. (attendance to 75% of online session and 100% of onsite session is required to be accepted to and pass the course)

Deadline: 4 March 2024

Max no. Of participants: 25

Description:

The course aims at building and strengthening competences in applied circular economy. The course targets the development of advanced skills in this domain by applying the problem based-learning (PBL) teaching model that focuses on learning by doing and reflection. The course applies a hybrid (online + physical) and flipped classroom approach where materials (readings, videos) are provided to the students in advance and the time spent in classroom/video meeting is used for Q&A, hands-on exercises, discussions. The course activities will include intensive group work, problem defining and solving applied to real-word cases, practical exercises, and discussion sessions or workshops. The target audience of the course is primarily academics (PhDs, postdoc, other) and then professionals who intend to bring their competences in circular economy to an advanced level. The course include both theory and practice with group work on a specific case study. Working under the supervision of the course teachers during the physical summer school days in Aalborg, as well as working independently and remotely before and after the course, students apply the exercises provided in the theory modules to a specific case study chosen within the group, and then collect all the results in a portfolio.

Module 1. Circular economy, from theory to practice

In this first module students are presented to the different theoretical approaches to circular economy as well as to their respective critiques. The focus will be on discussions on narrowing, slowing and reducing resource flows, especially focusing on the inner circles of circular economy. We also address how the potentials for circular improvements are identified. The case of digitalization and role of ICT in circular economy is presented with extant cases on ICT for waste reduction, as Product service systems, social media to enable circularity. The module includes group-exercises where theories of circular economy are applied to the analysis of a case study.

Module 2. Circular business models and strategies

The hands-on module explores the diversity in circular business models, especially with focus on the inner circles. The relevance of including new types of actors in these business models is discussed and various real-world case studies are presented to the students. Moreover, generic principles and strategies are introduced that can be applied in the design and innovation process to ensure more circular outcomes, i.e. for narrowing, slowing and closing the use of resources. The module includes group-exercises where a circular business strategy is designed for a specific case study.

Module 3. Life cycle assessment of circular business strategies

In this hands-on module students will learn how to use Life Cycle Assessment for the development and evaluation of circular economy strategies. The module covers theoretical basis of LCA, from life cycle thinking to computational structure of LCA, to practical elements such as use of LCA software, interpretation, use of results in the development of life cycle management strategies, and communication of results. The module introduces to using LCA as a starting point for creating more circular products value propositions and their influence on relations to suppliers and users. The module includes group-exercises where LCA is applied to evaluate a circular strategy for a specific case study.

Prices

Attendee / Price*

PhD students affiliated to a Danish University / Free

PhD students affiliated to Maastricht University, BTU Cottbus, TU Delft / 2.250 DKK (300 EUR)

Other PhD students / 4.500 DKK (600 EUR)

Academics (e.g. postdoc and professors) / 9.000 DKK (1200 EUR)

Professionals (consultancy, industry, etc.) / 18.000 DKK (2400 EUR)

* Prices do not cover meals or accommodation

Organizers

The course is organized by The TECH faculty and the TECH Centre for Circular Economy (TECH4CE) as, well as the Technical Doctoral School of IT and Design, Aalborg University.

Registration and info

Please apply by filling this google form https://forms.gle/yHyaTnSBZcbVjtar7. Each application will be evaluated, and we will return back to you if you are accepted for the course. For further information, please mail to the course organizer Massimo Pizzol (massimo@plan.aau.dk).

ECTS Distribution

The five ECTS credits of the course are divided roughly in this way:

Activity / Hours / ECTS

Lectures and group work in class  / 50  / 1.8

Readings  / 35  / 1.3

Group work prior to course / 20  / 0.7

Group work after course / 35  /1.3

Total  / 140 / 5.0

*One ECTS credit is equivalent to 28 hours of work

Activities: Includes attending to the lectures and performing exercises in class.

Readings: Approx. 100 pages of scientific articles and reports, that are provided to the students, plus tutorials and videos.

Group work: students work in groups (max 5 people). Each group will work on a case study and apply the knowledge of the course on the case study.

EXAMPLE, a group works on a case study of applied circular economy a product and does:

-                           prior to the course: description of case study, getting base knowledge and data to describe the product, service, or system under analysis.

-                           during the course (exercises in class): applying methods and tools presented, for example developing a circular business strategy relevant for the case.

-                           after the course: organize the material and prepare a portfolio/article where all the techniques are presented for the case study.

At the end of the course all portfolios are made available. Each student will thus get the info on five different cases. Students should be able to organize themselves using online tools for video calls and file sharing to collaborate in group remotely prior and after the course.

Prerequisites: The course is intended to be interdisciplinary and therefore is open to participants of different background (from Architecture to IT) so there are no strict prerequisites. The course will address basic as well as advanced elements of the circular economy methodological landscape, for a mixed audience.

However, the course is primarily designed to target students at the TECH faculty, which have background in environmental management, architecture and design, electronic systems, and computer science. So the course case studies will also be in these domains. Participants with background substantially different from these domains are recommended to explain clearly in their application what is the circular economy angle in their PhD project.

Basic knowledge of environmental management, sustainability, and life cycle thinking is an advantage, as well as any practical experience with circular economy problems or having approached some case studies on circular economy before.

Important information concerning PhD courses: We have over some time experienced problems with no-show for both project and general courses. It has now reached a point where we are forced to take action. Therefore, the Doctoral School has decided to introduce a no-show fee of DKK 3000 for each course where the student does not show up. Cancellations are accepted no later than 2 weeks before start of the course. Registered illness is of course an acceptable reason for not showing up on those days. Furthermore, all courses open for registration approximately four months before start. This can hopefully also provide new students a chance to register for courses during the year. We look forward to your registrations.