Together towards a sustainable future on Sint Maarten!

In this minor, you'll explore the Circular Economy. You'll work on multiple value creation, closing material loops, and developing new revenue models to support sustainable development. A diverse and varied program combining theory and practice prepares you for a career in the business world, where the demand for people with knowledge of circularity and sustainability is growing daily.

Course content

Across Sint Maarten, the circular economy is becoming an increasingly important topic. To give direction to this vital transition, Sint Maarten is developing a future vision centered on sustainability, innovation, and collaboration. The island aims to become a knowledge and sustainability hub within the Caribbean, strengthening its connections to Europe, North America, and Latin America. The government of Sint Maarten is committed to promoting renewable and clean energy, reducing plastic use, and making the tourism sector more sustainable. Tourism has brought great economic prosperity to the island, but it has also shown that the current linear economic system—where products are made, used, and discarded—is no longer viable.

Sustainable initiatives within tourism aim to reduce waste, lower energy and water costs, preserve nature and biodiversity, and promote fresher and healthier local food. Through this transition, Sint Maarten seeks to become a “circular island”, where the economy, environment, and community exist in balance. The move toward a circular economy requires a new way of thinking and doing. It’s not only about recycling or technical innovation—it’s about redesigning our production and consumption systems, developing new business models, and retaining the value of materials for as long as possible.

In this Circular Economy minor, you will learn how to organize and implement these changes in practice. Together with local businesses, community organizations, and government partners, you will work on concrete projects that bring circular solutions to life. You will apply theory directly in the field and contribute to Sint Maarten’s sustainable transformation.

Do you have creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, and a passion for sustainability? Do you believe that we shouldn’t just talk about change but actually make it happen? And would you like to help make Sint Maarten a leading example of a circular island economy in the Caribbean? Then sign up for this minor and help shape a resilient, sustainable future for Sint Maarten!

Target group

The minor is open to all students. Thanks to the structured materials and the available accessible literature (including the book "Sustainable Organization" by Jan Jonker and Niels Faber (2020) and the accompanying MOOC "Sustainable Organization" (mooc.saxion.nl), no specific prior knowledge is required to take this minor. We have a maximum of 16-20 places available for the Sint Maarten location.

This minor is for anyone interested in a sustainable future. Whether it's sustainable product design, the future of the fashion and textile industry, tourism, catering, or business economics, the Circular Economy will play a role in everything. Of course, you can also participate simply to gain an edge on your future job application. Students taking the Circular Economy minor in Sint Maarten are open to other cultures, don't judge immediately, and ask more questions. They can easily empathize with and adapt to other cultures and handle uncertainties effectively.

Important information about registration!
Send an email to Michel ter Brake (m.j.h.terbrake@saxion.nl) for more information and/or an invitation to the information session. Do this before you finalize your registration via the Kies Op Maat website. Invitations to the information session will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. An information session and an intake interview are part of the application process and are mandatory. Final placement for the Circular Economy minor in Sint Maarten is based on a CV and cover letter.

Why this minor?
1. Work on real-world sustainability challenges
In this minor, you tackle urgent global and local issues such as:

• waste management and resource scarcity

• sustainable production and consumption

• circular business models and reuse

You don’t just study theory — you apply your knowledge to real cases from companies and organizations.

2. A strong mix of theory and practice
You will learn:

• the core principles of the circular economy

• how to turn sustainability into feasible solutions

• how to collaborate with businesses, governments, and NGOs

This makes the minor relevant for students in business, engineering, logistics, tourism, ICT, environmental studies, and management.

3. Boost your career prospects
Sustainability and circularity are key themes in today’s job market.

This minor shows that you:

• think future-oriented

• have international experience

• can work independently and adapt to new contexts

 

4. Circular challenges are highly visible here
On a small island like Sint Maarten, you immediately experience:

• limited space

• high waste pressure

• strong dependence on imports

• vulnerable natural ecosystems

This makes circular solutions more urgent, tangible, and meaningful than in larger countries.

5. Your impact is immediate and visible
Because of the island’s small scale:

• projects can lead to faster results

• you clearly see the impact of your work

• you collaborate closely with local stakeholders

Your contributions truly matter.

6. Gain international and intercultural experience
You develop skills that are essential in a globalized world:

• working in a Caribbean context

• navigating cultural differences

• creative and flexible problem-solving

These competencies will benefit you far beyond this minor.

7. More than just studying — a life experience
Besides academics, you will:

• live in a unique international environment

• build a global network

• grow in independence and confidence

Many students describe this minor as a life-changing experience.

Experiences

During this minor, you won't just learn theory from a book; you'll also experience how to put it into practice at a real company, with everything that entails. You'll learn that finding effective solutions for practical situations, where real-world frameworks like financing and legislation apply, will demand your creativity and perseverance. You'll also gain a glimpse into what the Circular Economy means for the Netherlands and Sint Maarten, and how leading pioneers are already hard at work on it. Above all, it's a major journey of discovery into what you and your field can contribute to a sustainable future for all of us.

Course structure

The minor CE in Sint Maarten is offered throughout the semester and comprises 30 ECTS. In preparation, you will write a CV and a cover letter. Based on these, you will be invited for an intake interview and will hear whether you have been accepted for the minor Circular Economy in Sint Maarten. Before your departure for Sint Maarten, there will be a kickoff meeting where you will meet the other students and Saxion lecturers.

The minor consists of four main components (1&2 in the first quartile, 3&4 in the second quartile):

1. Introduction: What is the Circular Economy and why does it matter? Which Circular Dream and value proposition aligns with it?
2. Business models for the Circular Economy, materials, cycles, and stakeholders, Circular Principles and core activities: the 10 Re's
3. Results, impact, indicators, value creation, and revenue models
4. Organization, preconditions, and implementation of your advice.

These four components will be applied during the minor to a consulting assignment at a company on Sint Maarten, addressing a specific issue and delivering a concrete final product to the client. During the minor kickoff in the Netherlands (Deventer), you will be told, as a group (maximum 2-3 people), which company on Sint Maarten you will be working for the practical assignment.

There are three days of classes per week. These weeks are generally structured around 10 hours of lectures, 6 hours of independent study, and 24 hours for the practical assignment. Classes are held in person at the University of Sint Maarten (USM) in Philipsburg, Sint Maarten. This means students participate online in the lessons taught by Saxion instructors. On the remaining two days, you and your classmates will work on the practical assignment on-site and in person at the company. The minor concludes with a festive market where the students present all the results (final product including a video pitch) to the clients.

Activities

1. Follow interactive lectures & workshops
You take part in lectures and workshops on topics such as:

• principles of the circular economy
• sustainability and systems thinking
• circular business models
• policy, governance, and impact measurement

These sessions are interactive and often include guest speakers from local organizations and businesses.

2. Work on real-life projects with local stakeholders
A major part of the minor is working on real assignments for:

• companies

• government institutions

• NGOs and social enterprises

You analyze sustainability challenges and develop practical, implementable solutions that fit the local Caribbean context.

3. Conduct field research and site visits
You go into the field to:

• visit waste management facilities

• observe local production and consumption systems

• interview stakeholders and experts

• collect data to support your project

This helps you understand the challenges beyond theory.

4. Collaborate in multidisciplinary and international teams
You work in teams with students from different study programs and countries. This improves your skills in:

• teamwork and communication

• intercultural collaboration

• project management

5. Design circular solutions and business cases
Based on your research, you:

• develop circular strategies or concepts

• create business models or implementation plans

• assess environmental, social, and economic impact

You learn how to translate sustainability into viable solutions.

6. Present and reflect on your work
You regularly:

• present your progress to stakeholders

• pitch your final solution

• reflect on your personal and professional development

Reflection is an important part of the minor, helping you grow as a professional.

7. Engage with the local community and environment
Beyond coursework, you may:

• participate in clean-up initiatives

• join sustainability events or workshops

• connect with local communities

This deepens your understanding of sustainability in practice.

Assessment methods

The assessment for this minor consists of the following components:

• A written, individual test on the basic principles of the circular economy and circular business models, based on multiple-choice questions. This test will be administered at the end of the minor. Scope of the knowledge test: 5 ECTS.A written advisory report for your client. You will complete this assignment in teams. The supervising lecturers will assess the content based on pre-established and transparent rubrics. You will also create a poster together to clearly explain your advice at a glance. Scope of the advisory assignment, report, and poster: 20 ECTS.
• You will present your advisory report orally to the client. Supported by a masterclass, you and your team will create and submit a compelling video pitch. You will also individually write a personal reflection in the form of a short essay. Scope of the video pitch and essay combined: 5 ECTS.

Class attendance is mandatory. This requirement also applies to the consultancy assignment. In addition to the internship days at the company, it is also possible to continue working on the homework assignments and the consultancy assignment at the University of Sint Maarten.

All tests and assignments are conducted in the Netherlands and are graded by Saxion lecturers. The written exam is administered in Sint Maarten. The ECs for the CESM minor are awarded per block of 5 EC/20 EC/5 EC.

How do I register?

The registration process for a Kies op Maat minor at Saxion is a bit different from what is described on the website www.kiesopmaat.nl.

How does it work?

Step 1: Download the learning agreement from the Kies op Maat website and have it signed by the examination board of your home institution. Also sign the learning agreement yourself.

Step 2: Start your enrolment via Studielink (www.studielink.nl). Go to the “Courses” tab and click on “Add new enrolment request”. Then select Saxion as the “Educational institution” and enter “Minor” or “KOM” as the search term. A list of all the minors will appear. Make sure you choose the correct minor. After the registration in Studielink, you will receive two emails: one that confirms your registration at Saxion and immediately afterwards an email with the login code and link for the Osiris registration portal. You can upload the signed learning agreement in the Osiris registration portal.

If you have any questions about the registration, please contact our Servicepoint via 088 – 019 3000 / servicepoint@saxion.nl.

For questions about the content of the minor, please reach out to the minor contact person.