Welcome to A Cross and inter-disciplinary approach to System thinking – theories and methodologies 

Description: ‘As our world continues to change rapidly and become more complex, systems thinking will help us manage, adapt, and see the wide range of choices we have before us. It is a way of thinking that gives us the freedom to identify root causes of problems and see new opportunities’ (Meadows, 2008, p. 1). 

With current sustainability problems, human society as we know it, is living on “borrowed time”. And this is shaping how we see and act in the world. As researchers we are called to address complex problems, with societal impact, and to collaborate across disciplines to provide the best possible solution. For example, European Commission calls on missions to drive research and innovation, which AAU already adopted, emphasising cross-disciplinary, cross-institutions collaboration and engaging with multiple stakeholders. Thinking and working through systems should not be taken for granted. Even though history presents “natural” systems thinkers like Einstein, or Gregory Batson, thinking in systems requires a combination of attributes which go beyond the disciplinary knowledge and expertise such as flexibility, openness, collaboration, whilst uncovering the structures and behaviours that describe a given phenomenon and are in root of complex problems. This course aims to support PhD students to conceptualize systems thinking from multiple lenses whilst positioning themselves and their research from a systems perspective. 

Prerequisites: No, as long as students are interested in the topic. 

Learning objectives:

The course intends to facilitate learning opportunities for PhD students to: 

1) participate in conceptual thinking of system thinking as a concept from multiple lenses, from transdisciplinary to multidisciplinary and cross-disciplinary., 

2) collaboratively work on interdisciplinary research designs surrounding the topic of system thinking in diverse scientific fields, 

3) develop open-mindedness and wills to work (?) with alternative perspectives to better understand the complexity of reality to address its challenges and problems.  

Intended learning outcomes: 

Participants are expected to: 

1) reflectively conceptualize systems thinking from multiple lenses and its relevance for their current and future research practice,

2) collaboratively propose cross and interdisciplinary research designs to address the complexity of reality in a chosen topic, empowered by the concept of system thinking, 

3) critically self and peer evaluate the research designs and propose alternatives to further enhance peer learning in a cross and inter-disciplinary way. 

Assessment: 

Work on a collaboratively written cross or inter-disciplinary research proposal (3-4 pages) after Day 1 and 2 of the course, provide peer evaluation before Day 3 of the course. Resubmission 2 weeks after Day 3 after collecting all feedback during Day 3.  The design shall illustrate the use of one or more theoretical lens of system thinking and methodological design addressing the value and benefits of cross or inter-disciplinary research collaboration. 

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. 

Organizer: Lykke Bertel, Søren Lykke, and Xiangyun Du

Lecturers: Aida Guerra, Helle Nielsen, Lykke Bertel, Søren Lykke, Thomas Elliot and Xiangyun Du 

ECTS: 3

Time: 3 - 5 December 2025

Place: Aalborg University

Zip code: 9220

City: Aalborg

Maximal number of participants: 30

Deadline: 12 November 2025

Important information concerning PhD courses: 

There is a no-show fee of DKK 3,000 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. Furthermore, all courses open for registration approximately four months before start of the course.

We cannot ensure any seats before the deadline for enrolment, all participants will be informed after the deadline, approximately 3 weeks before the start of the course.

To attend courses at the Doctoral School in Medicine, Biomedical Science and Technology you must be enrolled as a PhD student.

For inquiries regarding registration, cancellation or waiting list, please contact the PhD administration at aauphd@adm.aau.dk When contacting us please state the course title and course period. Thank you.

Welcome to Advanced Energy System Analysis on the EnergyPLAN model 

Description: The PhD course gives an introduction to advanced energy system analysis using the EnergyPLAN computer model. After the course the participants are expected to be able to understand methodologies of advanced energy system analysis and to be able to use the EnergyPLAN computer model as a tool in making energy system analyses. 

The course is conducted as a combination of lectures and computer workshops of a total of 4 days (32 hours) and assignments of a total of 6-7 days (52 hours).  Results of assignments will be presented by the participants. 

The course start with an introduction to the model (installation, using, constructing new data sets) and proceeds to focus on the use of the model in 

- sustainable cities and communities

- technical analyses of large-scale integration of wind.

- analyses of exchange with external electricity markets

- combinations of different renewable energy technologies.

- designing flexible energy systems using flexible technologies such as heat pumps, hydrogen storage, pumped storage etc.

- district heating systems versus individual houses and zero energy buildings

- designing energy systems based on multiple criteria

Prerequisites: Prior to the course all participants are requested to conduct the following:

1. Install EnergyPLAN from energyplan.eu.

2. Consider how you wish to use EnergyPLAN – preferably in your Ph.D. project – alternatively in independent analyses only made for the Ph.D. course (notice that agenda for the first morning – third bullet-point).

3. Read the FIDE guide (Finding and inputting data to EnergyPLAN) from energyplan.eu and consider what data you will need to do).

4. There are a number of training exercises at energyplan.eu You are strongly encouraged /

expected to do these beforehand as this will enable you to make more advanced independent analyses during the actual course.

5. Read the articles.

Learning objectives: The PhD course gives an introduction to advanced energy system analysis using the EnergyPLAN computer model. After the course the participants are expected to be able to understand methodologies of advanced energy system analysis and to be able to use the EnergyPLAN computer model as a tool in making energy system analyses.

Organizer: Henrik Lund

Lecturers: Poul Alberg Østergaard, Henrik Lund, Jakob Zinck Thellufsen and Brian Vad Mathiesen

ECTS: 5

Time: 28 April – 1 Maj 2025 (onsite Aalborg), 6 and 13 May (Q&A online) and 20 May (Exam online)

Place: Aalborg University

Zip code: 9220

City: Aalborg

Maximal number of participants: 30

Deadline: 7 April 2025

Important information concerning PhD courses: 

There is a no-show fee of DKK 3,000 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. Furthermore, all courses open for registration approximately four months before start of the course.

We cannot ensure any seats before the deadline for enrolment, all participants will be informed after the deadline, approximately 3 weeks before the start of the course.

To attend courses at the Doctoral School in Medicine, Biomedical Science and Technology you must be enrolled as a PhD student.

For inquiries regarding registration, cancellation or waiting list, please contact the PhD administration at aauphd@adm.aau.dk When contacting us please state the course title and course period. Thank you.

Welcome to Summer School in Applied Circular Economy

Registration: please apply by filling this google form https://forms.gle/yHyaTnSBZcbVjtar7 

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.

Learning objectives: 

Knowledge The course aims at providing a strong theoretical understanding of circular economy. Theoretical elements cover: theoretical bases of circular economy, circularity principles and strategies in the design and innovation process, theoretical basis of life cycle assessment from computational structure to standards. Cases and opportunities in the nexus digitalization/circular economy. Skills The course aims at providing a practical skills in applied circular economy. Skills include: practical approaches to define circular economy problems and developing circular strategies and business models, practical skills in LCA software and models to evaluate circular economy strategies. Competences Apply advanced theoretical insights, business models, LCA modelling approaches to address, solve, and communicate complex real-life questions on the circularity of products, services, organizations, within a research context and beyond.

Organizer: 

Mette Mosgaard (assoc. Prof) and 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

Time: 

Online

Week 21 Tue 2025-05-20 10:00 - 12:00 Module 1

Week 21 Thu 2025-05-22 10:00 - 12:00 Module 1

Week 23 Tue 2025-06-03 10:00 - 12:00 Module 2

Week 23 Thu 2025-06-04 13:00 - 15:00 Module 2

Week 25 Tue 2025-06-17 10:00 - 12:00 Module 3

Week 25 Thu 2025-06-19 10:00 - 12:00 Module 3

Onsite

Week 27 Mon 30 June Module 1

Week 27 Tue 1 July Module 2

Week 27 Wed 2 July Module 3

Important information concerning PhD courses: 

We cannot ensure any seats before the deadline for enrolment, all participants will be informed after the deadline, approximately 3 weeks before the start of the course.

To attend courses at the Doctoral School in Medicine, Biomedical Science and Technology you must be enrolled as a PhD student.

For inquiries regarding registration, cancellation or waiting list, please contact the PhD administration at aauphd@adm.aau.dk When contacting us please state the course title and course period. Thank you.