Introducing Circularity in the Furniture Value Chain
Requirements
- Basic management skills
Description
The EU furniture industry is a labor-intensive sector dominated by SMEs, employing around 1 million workers in 130.000 companies, with an annual turnover of around 110 billion € and responsible for 1⁄4 of the world’s furniture (Eurostat). A study of the DG Enterprise and Industry (2014) shows that, over the last years, the European furniture industry has faced challenges related to increasing raw materials and labor costs, an aging workforce and difficulties in attracting younger workers. Reconversion of the industry by applying circularity has the potential to tackle these challenges, through repairing, refurbishment and remanufacture, allowing value recovery, economic growth and job creation within the European furniture industry, while saving on resources and the environment.
The Circular Economy in the Furniture Industry MOOC answers these issues by addressing the following topics:
• Fundamentals, context, legislation-policies and regulations to identify incentives and barriers to the Circular Economy model
• Eco-design principles and environmental assessment of products
• Best practices and guidelines
• Supply chain: material sourcing, certifications, LCA, life cycle assessment
• Productive system: environmental management, productivity and reverse logistics
• Technology based green innovation
• Access to funding for transition
• Industrial Symbiosis
• Solutions to minimize the use of non-renewable raw materials and energy
• Recovery and recycling of resources and after selling services introduction
• Final consumer engagement and "green" image communication
This MOOC explains how to introduce circularity in your value chain. It has been designed based on a bottom-up approach specifically designed to accommodate the needs and peculiarities of furniture SMEs employees aspiring to managerial positions. It is constructed around learning units and learning outcomes and has the ambition to improve learners knowledge and skills connected to circularity
Who this course is for:
- Furniture SMEs employees aspiring to managerial positions
- VET and HEIs teachers intersted in using the MOOC for their activities
- VET and University students
Instructors
- 4.5 Instructor Rating
- 157 Reviews
- 14,329 Students
- 24 Courses
I'm currently Professor at the Computer Eng. Dep. of the Engineering School of the Porto Polytechnic (ISEP). I'm also Director of Virtual Campus Lda, an SME dedicated to Technology Enhanced Learning and Serious Games.
I have a PhD (2001) in Technologies and Information Systems from the University of Minho, focusing in the use of e-learning in Higher Education.
As professor, I've lectured more than 20 different courses on Algorithms, Programming, Data Structures, E-Learning and Multimedia. Currently I'm lecturing Serious Games Design and Development and Multimedia Application Development. I was responsible for planning and developing the syllabuses and materials for most of these courses.
I started my research career in 1988 at INESC in the Computer Graphics Group. In 1996, I focused in Technology Enhanced Learning while doing my PhD at the University of Minho. From 2005 to 2014, I was Scientific Coordinator of GILT R&D (Games, Interaction and Learning Technologies). I've directed eight PhD and 40 MSc theses and authored over 200 publications and communications, including more than ten books (as author and editor). I coordinated 16 national and European projects and participated in more than 20 other projects. I worked as an expert for the European Commission and associated agencies in the scope of the Socrates-ODL, Minerva, E-Learning, E-Contents Plus, Lifelong Learning and Erasmus+ programmes.
On the management side, I directed the Distance Education Unit of the Porto Polytechnic from 1997 until 2000. From 2001 until 2005 I was E-Learning Director of ISEP and served as Dean of the Computer Eng. Dep. between 2003 and 2005. Between 2011 and 2013 I was President of the Portuguese Chapter of the IEEE Education Society.
Currently, I'm directing a company dedicated to the production of Serious Games and Technology-based Educational contents and applications.
- 4.4 Instructor Rating
- 4 Reviews
- 676 Students
- 2 Courses
Wittenborg's Research Centre operates as a knowledge hub and is a dynamic environment where international lecturers, researchers and students bring in their knowledge, experience, skills and cultural background and gain new knowledge, skills and understanding.
WUAS is the proud holder of the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education 2021-2027 quality certificate, enabling students and staff to participate in the Erasmus+ Programme. The programme focuses on enhancing mobility and international collaboration on innovative projects, allowing participants to learn from each other and share best practices.
- 4.4 Instructor Rating
- 4 Reviews
- 449 Students
- 1 Course
- 4.5 Instructor Rating
- 39 Reviews
- 3,113 Students
- 3 Courses
Expert in International Relations and European policies and funds. Studied political science and international business in Milan and in the Netherlands. Worked for the public (Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Municipality of Milan), semi public and private sector; mainly in the field of public funds, events management and European policies.
She is active in the field of EU projects since 2009; has experience in the management of projects and connected activities such as research, dissemination and reporting.
Moreover, she has experience as a trainer in EU project management and Canvas business model.
She has been working in projects in the field of training & research and mainly in the field of TCLF
- 4.4 Instructor Rating
- 4 Reviews
- 676 Students
- 2 Courses
I am an environmental scientist academically specialised in biodiversity management and conservation. On the other hand, my professional specialisation revolves around sustainable development and the circular economy, as well as the environmental management of industrial and business environments.
I currently develop my professional activity at the Technological Institute AIDIMME (Valencia, Spain). I do have wide experience in the development, obtaining and management of environmental certificates and in the management, implementation and audit of management systems (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, chain of custody), as well as in the development and management of projects (at a Regional, National and European level), and on sustainability and circular economy consulting.