Creating value from waste

Creating value from waste

Phone with lightbulbs. Photo
Photo: Johnny Briggs/Unsplash

Is the stuff we throw out worth anything?

We generate millions of tonnes of rubbish, garbage, waste (call it what you like) every day. Poor waste management has negative environmental, economic, and social effects that impact on all our lives. We can’t eliminate all waste, but we can minimise it by finding new ways to use and repurpose old things, designing sustainable processes and systems that help to reduce waste, and changing the way in which we understand consumption and waste. This village encourages you to explore all or any of these aspects as a way of creating economic and social value.

Relevant competence

This village crosses national, cultural, and disciplinary boundaries and is for anyone who has every thrown anything away but wondered if this stuff could have a new life. Whatever academic background you come from, you can make a meaningful contribution to a team project. We need input from engineers, philosophers, economists, businesspeople, artists, scientists and all kinds of other thinkers and doers. It should also appeal to you if you are interested in cross-cultural approaches to solving a global problem.

Flowers up close. Photo
Photo: Noah Elezar/Unsplash

About the village 

As part of this village, you will have the opportunity to listen and speak to experts in sustainable solutions from the public and private sectors in Norway who are implementing innovative solutions in waste management. This will help you develop your own ideas, skills, and project as part of a team. You can also choose to design and carry out a project in collaboration with one of our partners.

Facts

  • Course code: AM500218
  • Type: Semesterbased, virtual
  • Language: English
  • Village supervisor: Paula Rice
  • Semester: Spring 2025
  • Location: Online
  • Host faculty: ØK

 

  • The village is virtual. All teaching and group work takes place using online collaboration tools. Students must have a computer with camera and microphone.    
  • Flexible: Four hours of each village day are scheduled and take place on Wednesday mornings.
  • The schedule for the remaining four hours are decided by individual teams.

How do I register for EiT?

Important information about EiT

Important information about EiT:

  • The focus on teamwork skills and group processes is the unique feature of Experts in Teamwork (EiT)
  • EiTs teaching methods depend on the contribution and presence of every participant throughout the semester. For this reason, attendance is compulsory on every village day.
  • In contrast to many courses, the first few days are especially important in EiT. During this period, get to know each other and discuss what each individual can contribute. You will also draw up the compulsory cooperation agreement and start preparing a shared research question.
  • For additional information about Experts in Teamwork, see page for students