Circular Economy Education: A Course on Circular Lifecycle Management

The transition to a circular economy (CE), nowadays also associated with the advent of digital transformation, requires professionals to be trained and have specific knowledge to develop more sustainable solutions. In light of this circumstances, this study presents the structure of a course on circular lifecycle management that was designed based on technical skills recognized as critical for a CE. The course is divided into four sessions: 1. Circular (re)manufacturing; 2. Circular product design; 3. Circular indicators and CE performance assessment; and 4. Circular lifecycle assessment game. Each session was formulated to foster different, yet interconnected, specialized skills, ranging from knowledge about the circular manufacturing process supported by digital technologies to expertise in assessing circularity at different levels. This initiative is part of an EU-funded project that seeks to enhance circular and digital competencies through the empowerment of human skills. The paper contributes to the ongoing debate on how to train the new generation of workers to deal with climate and production challenges.