The sustainability issues that organizations face pose challenges within the current value chain structures. A circular economy requires a transition from linear supply chain connections to circular cooperation. Ownership, responsibilities, costs and revenues must be reconciled. Based on this challenge, students learn to critically analyze a transition on the flow of materials and to come up with possible solutions. In doing so, they focus on chain-wide issues that can arise from the circular ambitions of organizations in the housing and/or infrastructure construction sector.

In this minor, which forms an integrated whole together with the minors Circular Transition in Healthcare and Future-focused Business Innovator, you'll dive into real-world projects, participate in hands-on workshops and learn the art of effective networking. The skills you gain here will set you apart in any career path you choose.

This minor is offered as a hybrid English-Dutch minor. We do this because we believe that everyone should be able to participate in this minor, and that language should not be a barrier to participation. What this means in practice is that all group activities will be in English, but that you are always welcome to ask any questions in Dutch; we will assist with translations so that everyone will always be able to follow everything. Your individual coaching and deliverables can be done in English or Dutch.

Why choose this minor?

The transition to a sustainable and future-proof society requires sustainable circular supply chains. Existing value chains must become more circular, and new value chains must be developed. The supply chain structure changes as work becomes more circular due to the need for new services and partners. Circular supply chains are based on slowing down, narrowing and closing material cycles, transcending various sectors. It is also about ‘revalorizing’ waste streams into usable residual flows and reducing negative effects on the environment.

Circular innovation of supply chains is complex due to the diversity of stakeholders, disciplines and technologies. It requires knowledge of materials and material flows, circular design of products (including packaging) and services, circular procurement, return logistics, digitization (i.e. data gaps, traceability systems, data management, material platforms, blockchain), life cycle assessment, life cycle costing, social life cycle assessment, multidisciplinary collaboration skills, leadership, transition management, system analysis, and knowledge about price and market effects to possible detect rebound effects (which increase rather than decrease the ecological impact).

Exciting Projects Await You:

In the integrated minor as a whole, we team up with partners to create projects that fit into three key themes: changing consumer behaviour, designing sustainable business models and transforming the value chain. You'll spend about half of your time working on such a group project. Here are some examples of past projects:

• Changing Consumer Behaviour: Help reduce textile pollution, create eco-friendly menus for restaurants and develop marketing strategies for second-hand stores.
• Designing Sustainable Business Models: Find innovative recycling solutions for batteries and windmill blades, develop market strategies for biobased materials and explore the use of rotor blades for noise reduction.
• Transforming the Value Chain: Research blockchain applications, design sustainable business collaborations and investigate the future of textile waste.
• Reducing Waste: Eliminate the use of many kilograms of paper by enabling hospitals to work with sticker-free blood tubes.

The good news here is that your choice for Circular Value Chains means you will be able to see and experience the broader impact of the transformation to circular, which will provide input again for your own project. This way, we try to make use of interdisciplinary insights for mutual benefit.

Programme Structure:

In the first week, there will be a kick-off programme that will help you get into the right mindset and will also help in getting to know each other.

During the semester, you'll work on a group project 2-3 days per week with support from a coach and the client organisation. After an initial orientation phase, you'll present your project proposal in week 5 and then work on implementing it.

You'll also build a solid theoretical foundation with workshops in multiple areas such as research methods, systems thinking, sustainable business modelling, impact assessment and tools for the circular economy.

Individually, you'll deepen your knowledge on a circular topic of your choice and share your findings in a format of your own choosing, be that e-book, podcast, or something else entirely.

Throughout the minor, you keep track of your progress so you can share what you have learned during an interview at the end.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the minor, you'll:

• Have a thorough understanding of the circular economy.
• Be able to share your knowledge on various platforms.
• Possess strong research skills.
• Demonstrate problem-solving skills for circular projects.
• Evaluate circular solutions from financial, environmental, and social perspectives.
• Collaborate effectively with stakeholders.
• Develop a network of circular-minded individuals.

Note: Are you an external student?
Then you must first obtain permission from your own study program in order to take this minor.

Want to apply?
Then check the learning agreement for the next steps you need to follow.

The minor is intended for 4th year students of RBS, 3rd or 4th year students of partner universities and other economic/business management programs of applied universities.

The following students can be admitted:

• Students who successfully completed courses of Marketing and/or International Business Management within their applied university program.
• Level of English must be CEFR level B2.
• IBC skills (presentation and report writing). 

+ Level of thinking of a final-year Bachelor student or equivalent.

The field of Circular Economy is changing rapidly. Innovations, frameworks, and cases come to light every day. All literature that we use is open source and are accessible via our library.

Software tools

• Reference manager ENDNOTE – free licence available via the library of RUAS.
• SPSS – purchase at Surfnet (www.surfspot.org) for Euro 10, using your HR registration details
• LCA tool – CCALC2 http:www.ccalc.org.uk/ccalc2.php (For Windows only)
• Agent Based Modelling - Wilensky, U. (1999). Netlogo. Evanston, IL: Center for Connected Learning and Computer-Based Modeling, Northwestern University. Retrieved from

One fixed morning or afternoon every week

Assessment

There are two assessments in this minor, both of which are worth 15 ECs:

• RBSDCS01 – Group Project

o    Report 90%

o    Final client presentation 10%

The weighted average needs to be 5.5; no assessment may be lower than 4.0.

• RBSDCS02 – Professional Development

o    Final Interview based on delivery of several products (100%)

The final interview will be held on the basis of a knowledge product to be designed by the student and a professional development portfolio, which contains the learning journey of the student, with reflections and evidence that serve as input for the final interview, where the full learning journey is discussed in detail.

APPLICATION PROCESS 

Are you a student from another educational institution and would you like to follow a minor at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences? If so, you must apply in two steps:

Step 1
Register for the minor of your choice via the blue Apply button. You can find this button at the top right of the minor’s page.
Download the learning agreement and complete it.
Submit this learning agreement to the examination board of your study programme.

Once the examination board has granted approval, register for the minor in Step 2 no later than 01-07-2026 at 9:00 a.m.

Step 2
After approval, register via OSIRIS Application of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences using the link below (first create an account).

Click here: https://osiris.hr.nl/osiris_aanmeld_hrprd/Welkom.do?proces=KOM2609&opleiding=MINOR-RBS-VT 00

Part of the application process is uploading the following documents:

• The learning agreement, signed by you and by your institution;
• A scan or photo of your passport or ID card.

You will be informed by Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences whether your application has been approved.

In OSIRIS Application, you must also upload the Proof of Paid Tuition Fee (BBC) for the academic year in which you wish to follow the minor. This can be done from 01 May 2026 onwards. You can request the BBC from your institution after you have signed or issued an authorization for the payment of the tuition fee for the relevant academic year. You may also choose the option for your institution to send the BBC directly to collegegeld@hr.nl.

You will receive a notification from Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences once your application has been approved.

Online minor information sessions
Attend an online information session for this minor! View the programme and register here.

Minor fair
This minor will be present at the minor fair. Will you join us? View the programme and register here.
Date: Thursday, 5 March 2026
Time: 4:00–7:30 p.m.
Location: Kralingse Zoom