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Part of our Profiled Universities
Institution: University of Eastern Finland
Location: Joensuu and Kuopio, Finland
Focus Area: 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. business models, strategies, sustainable entrepreneurship, and ecosystems; Circular economy research creates technological, legal, social, and business solutions for the transition from linear to a circular economy
Expertise: International multidisciplinary research to tackle complex sustainability issues varying from business, cultural, forest, health, legal, natural and nutrition sciences focusing on circular economy, bioeconomy, energy, water and building a carbon-neutral society
Education: Teaching and Learning
Sustainable Business and Society Minor - Students learn about the circular economy, sustainable use of resources and sustainable circular economy business models. The courses can be completed online. Most of the courses are taught in English. The courses are offered in collaboration with the Business School, Environmental policy and Law School. Course modules included in the minor cover: Artificial Intelligence and Circular Economy, Circular Economy as a Societal Change (MOOG), Circular Economy in the Legal Context, Sustainable and Responsible Tourism, Food and Society, Economic transition towards Sustainability and Carbon Neutrality (in Finnish).
Climate University - Climate University provides free online courses for universities and anyone who wants to make the sustainability transition in society real. The courses are made in multidisciplinary collaboration with 18 universities in Finland and UEF is a founding member of the network. Climate University provides courses on Circular Economy, Climate Communications, Leadership and Sustainable Change, Solutions, Statistical Tool, Atmospheric Science and Climate Change. Climate University offers a course for High School students across Finland. Further Information.
Biodiversity education network - UEF coordinates a multidisciplinary network of Finnish Universities to provide courses on biodiversity. The goal of the teaching program is to increase competence in understanding the different aspects of biodiversity and to develop skills in biodiversity as a central aspect of societal decision-making. The network is just starting to set up the curriculum.
UEF EMBA Circular Economy as a Responsible Business, UEF EMBA Entity Module Course, (offered in Finnish). Further information
Research
Circular Economy Catalysts: From Innovation to Business Ecosystems (CICAT2025) - This project supports Finland's strategic objective to become a global leader in the circular economy by 2025. The multidisciplinary research projects seek to identify ways to enhance the sustainability transition througha circular economy and find solutions in collaboration with regulators, cities, and companies to speed the transition. UEF (Business School and Department of Law) is a partner in a National Research Consortium, Vice Pl of the consortium, Professor Hanna Lehtimaki, Business School. The project is funded by the Strategic Research Council of Finland (SAC). (2019-2023). Learn more
Sustainable Resource Society: Circular Economy, Energy and Raw Materials (RESOURCE) - Research Community studies the societal challenges of sustainability transitions in the fields of minerals, energy and circular economy from the perspectives of politology, legal, business, geographical, historical and social studies and geoinformatics. Learn more
Circular Economy and Product Policy (KITUPO) - Department of Law, UEF. The objective of the project is to assess how product policies can promote a sustainable circular economy. The topics covered are eco-design, environmental product claims, extended producer responsibility and product-service systems.
Material Effective Circular Economy in Pohjois-Savo (KILIKE) - The objective of the project was to find and develop new, financially profitable applications for the use of recycled material. The processed materials included different secondary flows of fibres, minerals and plastics in industry, or similar material that has already been categorized as waste, such as construction or municipal waste. The project enabled the significant reduction of carbon footprints. The project was funded by the Regional Council of Pohjois-Savo through the Programme for Sustainable Growth and Jobs, (further information, in Finnish).
BIOBM - Business Models of Born Globals in a Forest-Based Bioeconomy - The project challenges the forest sector's traditional way of thinking and analyses companies that offer novel bioeconomy products and services and that are targeting the networked, global market through new channels. The project was funded by the Academy of Finland. Learn more
Fostering Entrepreneurship for the Bioeconomy (FOEBE) - FOEBE aims to equip bioeconomy students with sustainable entrepreneurship skills to speed up the European expansion of the bioeconomy sector. The project is funded by the Erasmus+ programme. (2020-2023) Learn more
Wasteless Karelias - This project is led by UEF in collaboration with the Association for Rural Culture and Education (MSL), the Insitute of Economics of the Karelian Research Center (IoE) and the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE). Wasteless Karelias organises local waste management workshops, clean-up events, cross border school competitions and a Trash-Art Festival. The project supports local residents, authorities and companies through approaches to tackle the challenges of rural waste management under the framework of a circular economy, such as changing relationships to items and products (product care stories; identifying counter-narratives to throw-away cultures). Learn more
Influence and wider leadership
Kuopio Energia, Renewable cold energy and recycled excess heat, Savilahti urban development project (2020) - District cooling is produced ecologically by utilising cold energy stored in the Neulalahti deep-water area of Pohjois-Kallavesi. It saves up to 80% of electrical energy compared to cooling produced by property-specific refrigeration equipment. The Savilahti district cooling plant also produces renewable district heat from surplus heat collected from customers.
Campus Management and student-led initiatives
The University of Eastern Finland (UEF) uses 100% renewable energyrenewable energyEnergy derived from resources that are not depleted on timescales relevant to the economy, i.e. not geological timescales.. The renewable energy sources used to generate the electricity consumed by the university were: 48.9% water/hydro, 49.6% bioenergy, and 1.6% wind power. In 2019, the solar panels at Kuopio Campus generated 14,500 kWh of solar energy. The University's staff and students also take part in bike-sharing initiatives (in Kuopio and Joensuu). UEF has signed the Green Office policy contract and is also a Fairtrade University.
The UEF together with the Students' Union organises World Water Day, Earth Hour and Energy Saving Week events and during the Sustainable Development Week at both the Joensuu and Kuopio campuses.
Connect with:
Professor Hanna Lehtimaki, University of Eastern Finland, Business School, Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies
Research Manager Ville-Veikko Piispanen, University of Eastern Finland, Business School, Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies
