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Course profile

Engineering the Circular Economy (ENVE4610)

Study period
Sem 1 2025
Location
St Lucia
Attendance mode
In Person

Course overview

Study period
Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
Study level
Undergraduate
Location
St Lucia
Attendance mode
In Person
Units
2
Administrative campus
St Lucia
Coordinating unit
Chemical Engineering School

The transition from a take-make-waste economy to a circular economy is underway. The aim of a circular economy is to reduce non-renewable energy and resource consumption. This course will focus on methods for measuring circularity including energy, life cycle and ecological footprint analysis. The course will also look at the technologies that are shaping the sustainable future, including the H2 economy, bio-based plastics, bio-based liquid natural gas and energy storage systems. These changes are occurring at the same time that paradigms are shifting in transport (electric vehicles, driverless systems), communication (virtual instead of physical) and leisure. The course will examine the energy and material requirements of the sustainable society and the biological, physical and thermodynamic limits of the technologies that are proposed to meet these demands. Through a series of individual and team projects, students will gain experience in developing sustainable solutions, considering local and regional scales. The economic impacts of shifting to a circular economy will also be explored. The course applies to a wide range of careers, including Geotechnical, Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, Environmental Management, and Agricultural and Earth Sciences.

This course will examine concepts of the circular economy, tools used to evaluate circularity and sustainability,ᅠ examine case studies in sustainable engineering, and scope a circular product or process. Through a series of individual and team projects, students will gain experience in developing sustainable solutions in an engineering context, considering design, technological, environmental, social, policy, supply chain and business model areas.

Course requirements

Prerequisites

You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:

Completion of 32 units towards BE(Hons)

Course contact

Course coordinator

Professor Peter Halley

Please meet me in lectures or tutes or use EDdiscussion board for course questions. Email me for personal student concerns.

Course staff

Lecturer

Tutor

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Aims and outcomes

This course aims to enable you to use circular and sustainability tools andᅠ design circular products and processes, all with an understanding of current circular and sustainability principles.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

LO1.

Understand and apply the key principles of sustainability and circularity

LO2.

Use appropriate tools to assess sustainability on individual, process, product and global levels

LO3.

Work in a team to design a circular product/process and make recommendations that consider design, technological, supply chain, social, political and business aspects

LO4.

Find reliable data and analyse impacts on sustainability on variations of a circular product/process

Assessment

Assessment summary

Category Assessment task Weight Due date
Paper/ Report/ Annotation Assignment 1 Principles and assessment tools
  • Online
20%

21/03/2025 4:00 pm

Paper/ Report/ Annotation Assignment 2 Detailed case studies
  • Online
20%

17/04/2025 4:00 pm

Paper/ Report/ Annotation Assignment 3 Circular product/process report
  • Team or group-based
  • Online
30%

23/05/2025 4:00 pm

Examination Exam During Exam Period (Central)
  • Hurdle
  • Identity Verified
  • In-person
30%

End of Semester Exam Period

7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025

A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.

Assessment details

Assignment 1 Principles and assessment tools

  • Online
Mode
Written
Category
Paper/ Report/ Annotation
Weight
20%
Due date

21/03/2025 4:00 pm

Learning outcomes
L01, L02

Task description

This assignment will focus on use of simple sustainability and circular economy principles and tools.

Full requirements are on blackboard>assessment folder.

This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Submission guidelines

Blackboard submission.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Assessments must be submitted on or before the due date. Late submissions of assessment items will only be accepted if approval for late submission has been obtained prior to the due date.

Penalties Apply for Late Submission

Refer PPL Assessment Procedure Section 3 Part C (48)

A Student Access Plan (SAP) can only be used for a first extension. Extensions based on an SAP may be granted for up to seven (7) days, or the maximum number of days specified in the Course Instance (CI), if it is less than seven (7) days. Any further extensions will require additional supporting documentation, such as a medical certificate.

Assignment 2 Detailed case studies

  • Online
Mode
Written
Category
Paper/ Report/ Annotation
Weight
20%
Due date

17/04/2025 4:00 pm

Learning outcomes
L01, L02

Task description

Critical review of existing detailed sustainability or circular assessments.

Full requirements are on blackboard>assessment folder.

This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Submission guidelines

Via Blackboard.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Assessments must be submitted on or before the due date. Late submissions of assessment items will only be accepted if approval for late submission has been obtained prior to the due date.

Penalties Apply for Late Submission

Refer PPL Assessment Procedure Section 3 Part C (48)

A Student Access Plan (SAP) can only be used for a first extension. Extensions based on an SAP may be granted for up to seven (7) days, or the maximum number of days specified in the Course Instance (CI), if it is less than seven (7) days. Any further extensions will require additional supporting documentation, such as a medical certificate.

Assignment 3 Circular product/process report

  • Team or group-based
  • Online
Mode
Written
Category
Paper/ Report/ Annotation
Weight
30%
Due date

23/05/2025 4:00 pm

Other conditions
Peer assessed.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04

Task description

Team report on circular engineering application incorporating holistic approach to product design, sustainability analyses, business aspects, supply chains, and policy and social effects. 

Full requirements are on blackboard>assessment folder.

This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Submission guidelines

Via Blackboard.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Assessments must be submitted on or before the due date. Late submissions of assessment items will only be accepted if approval for late submission has been obtained prior to the due date.

Penalties Apply for Late Submission

Refer PPL Assessment Procedure Section 3 Part C (48)

A Student Access Plan (SAP) can only be used for a first extension. Extensions based on an SAP may be granted for up to seven (7) days, or the maximum number of days specified in the Course Instance (CI), if it is less than seven (7) days. Any further extensions will require additional supporting documentation, such as a medical certificate.

Exam During Exam Period (Central)

  • Hurdle
  • Identity Verified
  • In-person
Mode
Written
Category
Examination
Weight
30%
Due date

End of Semester Exam Period

7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L04

Task description

Final exam may have questions on circular economy principles, assessment tools, and a critical review of a detailed assessment example.

This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Hurdle requirements

Hurdle: You must pass the exam to pass the course (eg > 50/100).

Exam details

Planning time 10 minutes
Duration 120 minutes
Calculator options

(In person) Casio FX82 series only or UQ approved and labelled calculator

Open/closed book Closed Book examination - specified written materials permitted
Materials

One A4 sheet of handwritten or typed notes, double sided, is permitted

Exam platform Paper based
Invigilation

Invigilated in person

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Grade Description
1 (Low Fail)

Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.

Course grade description: As per grade 2 and/or failure to complete assessment items.

2 (Fail)

Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.

Course grade description: Lack of evidence of professional competence in the course material to the degree that teaching team believe would unacceptably inconvenience or endanger participants in any future project. Overall course grade typically between 20-44.9%.

3 (Marginal Fail)

Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes

Course grade description: Falls short of satisfying all basic requirements for a Pass. Overall course grade typically between 45.0-49.9%.

4 (Pass)

Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes.

Course grade description: Demonstration of competency across core learning objectives . Overall course grade typically between 50-64.9%.

5 (Credit)

Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes.

Course grade description: Competent work showing the clear application of circular tools and principles individually and in a project. Overall course grade typically between 65-74.9%.

6 (Distinction)

Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes.

Course grade description: Very competent work showing the clear application of effective thinking, effective communication and the application of circular tools and principles individually and in a project. Overall course grade typically between 75-84.9%.

7 (High Distinction)

Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes.

Course grade description: Outstanding work showing the clear and concise application of effective thinking, effective communication, and the application of circular tools and principles individually and in a case study. The work will demonstrate out of the box thinking and students will demonstrate a capacity to go above and beyond task requirements. Overall course grade typically between 85-100%.

Additional course grading information

Group work will be observed during the course and monitored by lecturer, tutors and peers.ᅠ

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.

Additional learning resources information

This is a highly changeable field, but some suggested readings are:

1. Life Cycle Assessment: A Metric for the Circular Economy, Edited by Aiduan Borrion, Mairi J. Black and Onesmus Mwabonje, (1st ed.). Royal Society of Chemistry. [e-version in UQ library]

2. Circular economy and sustainability. Volume 2, Environmental engineering, edited by Alexandros Stefanakis, Ioannis Nikolaou Elsevier (2022) [e-version in UQ library]

3. Sustainable Engineering -Principles and Implementation, Catherine N. Mulligan, 1st Edition, (2019) CRC Press  [e-version in UQ library]

4. Sustainable Engineering: Drivers, Metrics, Tools, and Applications, Krishna R. Reddy, Claudio Cameselle, Jeffrey A. Adams, ISBN: 978-1-119-49393-8 (2019)  [e-version in UQ library]

Circular economy case study examples

https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/circular-economy-introduction/examples 

LCA information

https://venturewell.org/tools_for_design/measuring-sustainability/life-cycle-assessment-content/

https://www.ecocostsvalue.com/lca/

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

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Learning period Activity type Topic
Multiple weeks
Lecture

Lectures for concepts and examples

Lectures to provide concepts and invited lecturer and practioner examples.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04

Tutorial

Tutes to exemplify concepts and allow project time

Tutes follow lectures to provide examples.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.

Course guidelines

Anyone undertaking courses with a practical component must complete the UQ Undergraduate Student Laboratory Safety Induction and pass the associated assessment.

Specific instructions, usage guidelines and rules for each of the undergraduate laboratories will be delivered as part of each course.

In some cases, students may be required to attend a specific face-to-face laboratory induction/training session.