Circular Economy Innovation Postgraduate Certificate - PgC

The Circular Economy Innovation Postgraduate Certificate will be awarded on the successful completion of 60 credits. Each module is worth 20 credits:

The Circular Economy

You’ll explore the foundations of the circular economy as a proposed alternative to the prevalent ‘take, make, dispose’ linear economy, how it is framed at the macro level (global, international and national) and how international and supranational policies designed to accelerate the circular economy may impact organisations. You will also investigate the relationship between the circular economy and related ecological concepts.

The aim of the module is to gain a comprehensive, structured and critical understanding of a circular economy, its contribution to sustainable development and the potential opportunities it generates for organisations.

Circular Economy Innovation

You’ll explore key theories of innovation, strategy and core processes and their relevance to the circular economy. The aim of the module is to provide you with the mindset, tools and processes that support circular economy innovation and the foundations to develop an effective and realistic circular innovation plan.

Strategic Growth Project

You’ll practically apply established techniques of research and enquiry to address sustainable strategic development within your organisation. The aim of the module is to support you transitioning your learning to the workplace by selecting a real work-based issue, conducting appropriate research and making a series of strategic recommendations.

Recognising Prior Certificated Learning

Have you completed one of the following Circular Economy Innovation Communities (CEIC) programmes? If so, you may be exempt from module 1 (The Circular Economy, 20 credits).

• Circular Economy Innovation Communities
• Foundational Economy Innovation Network
• Clean Growth Programme

Our teaching team will bring their expert knowledge and industry experience in sustainable and circular innovation to enhance your high-quality and flexible learning experience at Cardiff School of Management. You will learn through a combination of our award-winning experiential learning approach and traditional teaching methods, including lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials, case studies and groupwork. Monthly workshops are held over an 8-month period.

You’ll benefit from the opportunity to take part in field trips to businesses implementing circular economy strategies, and a programme of guest speakers bringing real-world experience from a range of business sectors and sizes. You’ll also undertake project work that focuses on planning, implementing or reflecting on circular economy change.

As a postgraduate student, you will be encouraged to take more responsibility for your own learning and evaluate your own learning needs to become an active and independent learner.

Your programme leader is Dr Gary Walpole, Director of Circular Economy Innovation Communities, a network of private, public and third sector organisations undertaking circular innovation across South Wales. Gary is a renowned leadership and management academic and a co-director of the Regional Innovation and Regeneration Centre.

Our Circular Economy Innovation Postgraduate Certificate is assessed through a combination of essays, project presentations, organisation audits, implementation reports, and reflective portfolios. You will receive formative feedback as you develop your final assessment that will highlight areas of strength and points for improvement.

Employability

On completing this Postgraduate Certificate, you will become part of a very small and highly in-demand community of people qualified to lead circular economy change. You will have access to the delivery team’s strong network of practitioners who are engaged in circular economy activity in the public, private and third sector.

Careers

Our Postgraduate Certificate opens doors to a wide range of exciting career paths in any of the following areas:

• Business development and strategy
• Management and consulting
• Change management
• Sustainability management
• Policy development and implementation

Applicants must be in employment or volunteering in an organisation that would support the development of a strategic growth project. Applicants should also meet one of the following:

• Possess, or expect to obtain, a minimum of a second-class lower division (UK 2:2 classification) degree from a recognised university.

OR

• Have a minimum of five years relevant management experience.

OR

• Hold a professional or other qualification which is deemed acceptable for admission.
• Be in employment or volunteering in an organisation that would support the development of the strategic growth project.

International Applicants

Students whose first language is not English will need to provide evidence of fluency to at least an IELTS 6.0 standard or equivalent. For full details about how to apply and English Language qualifications please visit the International pages.

There are quality assurance measures taken at programme, school and institutional level to ensure standards are consistently met.

How to Apply

Applications for this course should be made direct to the University via our self-service facility. For further information please visit our How to Apply pages.

Eligible organisations could claim 50% off the Postgraduate Certificate tuition fee via the Welsh Government Flexible Skills Programme.

The payment will be made in arrears subject to the provision of the necessary evidence that:

• Confirms full course attendance and/or completion
• Training providers have been paid for the training attended

Find out more about whether you are eligible for Welsh Government funding.

Submit an expression of interest to Welsh Government.

For general enquiries, please contact the Admissions Team on 029 2041 6010 or email askadmissions@cardiffmet.ac.uk.

For course specific enquiries, please contact the Programme Director, Dr Gary Walpole:

• Email: gwalpole@cardiffmet.ac.uk