Have you ever wondered how society can truly transition toward a sustainable future? In this module, you will explore how sustainable circular products and processes can reduce our dependence on fossil resources and critical materials. Together with researchers, companies, municipalities and NGOs, you will learn about the aspects that are important to develop and introduce sustainable circular products and processes, such as (technical) design, marketing, finances, human behaviour and environmental impact.

At the start of the module, you will choose a sustainable real‑world challenge that fits your interests and develop it into a solid concept supported by a financial plan, a value‑driven marketing approach, and a clear communication strategy aimed at relevant stakeholders. You will use the knowledge you previously gained in your study programme, combined with new knowledge that you will acquire in the module.

You may, for example, explore applications for reusing horticultural residuals (such as paprika plant stems and leaves), investigate market opportunities for sustainable blue or red pigments produced by fungi, or examine applications, potential improvements, and markets for vegan leather. These examples illustrate the type of challenges you can work on. Each year, we have rough new project ideas, but you are free to select any sustainability topic that resonates with your interests and ambitions.

During the minor, you will interview experts, attend workshops, participate in field visits and translate your insights into a professional final deliverable. This may take the form of a market-ready pitch, business plan, impact report, prototype proposal, or a communication product such as a podcast, campaign concept or visual narrative.

*Sustainable Switch is a renewed minor based on our previous minor Biobased Technology and Business Development. 

 

The minor comprises 30 ECTS credits and offers a unique opportunity to develop future-ready competencies by tackling real-world challenges through transdisciplinary teamwork. Your team will consist of 4 to 5 students with diverse backgrounds.

In this module, you will work on a sustainability challenge that you study over 20 weeks, where you specialise in a topic relevant to the case you choose. While working on your chosen challenge, you will learn about:

· Sustainability & Circular Innovation: You explore the foundational principles of the transition to a sustainable circular economy. Through influential cases and real-world examples, you examine how sustainable innovations emerge, develop and gain societal relevance.

· Marketing & Strategy: You learn how to position circular sustainable products and innovations in a competitive market. This includes understanding target audiences, shaping

value propositions and analysing how communication and branding influence the acceptance and adoption of sustainable solutions.

· Finance & Feasibility: You explore how we evaluate the financial viability of sustainable innovations. You gain insight into investment, risk assessments, and returns on investment to determine whether a circular, sustainable concept can scale responsibly and realistically.

· Communication & Behavioural Influence: You learn how to communicate sustainability challenges and solutions effectively to diverse audiences.

· Transdisciplinary collaboration:

You collaborate not only with students from other programmes, but also with external experts, societal stakeholders, and professional partners who, together with you, contribute to finding a solution to the challenge. Working with people with diverse perspectives enriches your understanding and enables you to co-create solutions that have real-world relevance and impact.

This minor is broadening rather than deepening — designed to introduce you to multiple dimensions of the sustainable and biobased domain, while you need to actively demonstrate your expertise. As part of the programme, a series of workshops is organised, offering you a wide-angle view of the professional fields, disciplines and opportunities within this rapidly evolving landscape.

 

Assessment

There are no traditional exams. Instead, the focus is on authentic, practice-oriented evaluation that reflects your ability to integrate transdisciplinary perspectives into real-world solutions.

You earn the associated ECTS credits when you get a final score of 55 (=5.5) or higher. Assessment takes place both individually and as part of group work. The gradable activities are

· Simulated Leadership meetings – Individual- 50 points

· Audit trail- A document that gives detailed information about the process – Group work- 30 points

· Professional product- tangible evidence for the project results (e.g. prototype, communication product, business plan)- 20 points

You need to pass the individual part to complete the module.

 

Additional information

The Avans study program linked to this minor module is Milieukunde (ESSET). You will need this information for the enrolment in Studielink
For Avans students, you need to enrol via Osiris. The minor is under the faculty of the School of Life Sciences and Technology (or “Academie voor Life Sciences and Technology”). If you do not succeed, do not hesitate to contact us.

This minor is open to all students from all over the world who are motivated to work on transdisciplinary projects. While the programme primarily targets students from fields such as technology, environmental science, economics, business, innovation, communication, entrepreneurship, and retail management, anyone eager to collaborate beyond their own discipline is welcome to apply. Please note that all oral and written communication will be conducted in English. An intake interview will be held at the beginning of the admission process to align expectations.

Not applicable

This minor will start on 31 August 2026, and finish at the end of January 2027.

Assessment

There are no traditional exams. Instead, the focus is on authentic, practice-oriented evaluation that reflects your ability to integrate transdisciplinary perspectives into real-world solutions.

You earn the associated ECTS credits when you get a final score of 55 (=5.5) or higher. Assessment takes place both individually and as part of group work. The gradable activities are

· Simulated Leadership meetings – Individual- 50 points

· Audit trail- A document that gives detailed information about the process – Group work- 30 points

· Professional product- tangible evidence for the project results (e.g. prototype, communication product, business plan)- 20 points

You need to pass the individual part to complete the module.

Remarks

Students from all over the world are invited to register for this minor. All communication (both oral and written) will be in English.