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Institution: Laurea University of Applied Sciences
Location: Vantaa, Finland Focus Area:Service Design and co-creation methodologies, living labs, business model and ecosystems for circular economycircular economyA systems solution framework that tackles global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution. It is based on three principles, driven by design: eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials (at their highest value), and regenerate nature., and sustainable consumption / behaviour
Expertise: Service design for circular economy, user-centred design, co-creation and living lab approaches to innovation, business development and social circular economy. Scientific and applied research, development and innovation in close connection with private, public and civic sector organisations and citizens/users.
Key Projects
Education
As a part of Laurea’s 2030 strategy, circular economy will be integrated into all degree programme curricula, (starting in business administration programmes). Other areas of study will follow and Laurea’s aim is to provide students with a cumulative and comprehensive understanding of sustainable development and circular economy.
Circular Economy Competence to Universities of Applied Sciences
The project improves the quality and openness of multidisciplinary education at universities of applied sciences by promoting circular economy competence and collaboration with emphasis on international activities. The planning and piloting utilizes the philosophy and strategy of Industry 4.0. The nineteen participating UAS institutions develop new learning environments and methods by utilizing the varied strengths of the participating universities. The learning environments are studies Experiences and practices produced in this project will form of a new kind of cooperation, which will be included as a permanent part of the UAS curriculum. Find out more about this project.
Sustainable Growth Leadership MBA (offered in Finnish) The programme focuses on creating new social innovations and values in different networks. Topics include development of circular economy business models, sustainable financing solutions and strengthening resilience and sustainable consumption practices. Across the programme, the aim is to find solutions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals 8 (decent work and economic growth), 11 (sustainable cities and communities), 12 (responsible consumption) and 13 (climate action). (Further information).
Futures Thinking and Customer-Oriented Service Management MBA Master's Degree Programme consisting of compulsory studies, elective studies and the Thesis/dissertation. Resource efficiency and circular economy, a key future driving force, is embedded in all compulsory studies.
Bachelor’s Programme in - The Social Services Programme, (offered in English), provides students with the skills required in future working life, focusing on global development needs and sustainability. The course focuses on ‘social circular economy’ (circular economy strategies combined with social enterprise) and aspects include global development needs and sustainability, working with multicultural and multi-professional teams, advancing sustainable social service development and social service design, and understanding the meaning of social circular economy in different service contexts.
Research
Laurea’s research competencies are in orchestrating living labs for addressing complex societal challenges, in multi-stakeholder dialogues and open innovation ecosystems. The focus is on understanding human behaviour, individual and socio-cultural drivers for sustainability. Laurea also has expertise in developing user-centred services for the public, private and civic sectors that improve livelihoods and quality of life for citizens.
Circular economy focused research is mainly carried out under the service business and circular economy programme. Projects range from local to international level, from educational projects and local community development to European-level circular economy projects, such as Circ4Life.
Cleantech Mobility Education for Tomorrow – A joint research programme between Laurea University of Applied Sciences, Metropolia UAS, Omnia vocational education institution, VTT Research and the City of Espoo. The project aims to develop dynamic, eco-systemic learning environments, focusing on circular and cleantech aspects of education. It also aims to develop new business models and increase open resource sharing between project partners. (Funded by the EU Social Cohesion Fund).
CIRC4Life - (‘A circular economy approach for lifecycles of products and services’) is an international collaborative innovation project supported by the European Commission’s H2020 Circular Economy programme. The project consortium consists of 17 partners across 8 EU countries.
Purater, usability and safety of demolition materials for reusereuseThe repeated use of a product or component for its intended purpose without significant modification. and circular markets. The project aims to provide information about the usability and safety of demolition materials reuse and analysis of suitable policy instruments. This information will be used in the preparation of the new construction product regulation. (Joint project with Ramboll ltd., Hamk UAS and Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, FIOH. Funded by the Finnish Government).
Resource-smart with a human touch – A joint project between Aalto University, Laurea University of Applied Sciences and Lapinjärvi municipality. The project is developing human-oriented operating models that can be utilised for the development of resource-smart products and services to build ecologically and socially sustainable residential areas. The Husulanmäki residential area at Lapinjärvi, Finland, is used as a pilot site for the project.
Mission Zero Foodprint – Towards carbon neutral food industry This project is run jointly by Forum Virium Helsinki and Laurea University of Applied Sciences and helps small and medium-sized restaurants and other food services companies in the Uusimaa region to reduce food waste and decrease energy consumption and their carbon footprint.
Leadership and wider influence
Service Design and Circular Economy Research Programme - Service Business and Circular Economy Research programme provides a platform for studying, analysing, co-creating business ecosystems and service innovations that foster new service business.
Laurea Living Labs - Laurea Living Labs Network collaborate with research institutions, companies, public agencies, citizens, and users for investigating and creating new products and services. Learn more.
‘CELLL’ - A toolkit for co-creating circular economy business models -CELLL is mainly designed for companies to define their CEBMs in a multi-stakeholder setting, but it can be used also in (for example) for teaching circular economy. Learn more.
Connect with: Markku Anttonen, Research Programme Director, Service Business and Circular Economy - (markku.anttonen@laurea.fi) Julia Nevmerzhitskaya, Project Manager and Senior Lecturer, (julia.nevmerzhitskaya@laurea.fi)
Find out more:
Laurea University of Applied Sciences operates in the Greater Helsinki Metropolitan region at six different campuses. There are about 7,800 students, 550 staff members and more than 28,200 alumni. People and interaction are at the core of Laurea’s education and RDI activities.
Laurea is actively involved in several service business and service design networks, such as the Finnish Service Alliance, Service Design Network and European Network of Living Labs.
