Designing Collaborative European Projects for Remanufacturing Education
Lessons Learned from Experimentation with Universities and Companies
Helmi Ben Rejeb (Université Grenoble Alpes)
Jyri Hanski (VTT Technical Research Center of Finland)
Jouko Heikkilä (VTT Technical Research Center of Finland)
Jan Henk Welink (TU Delft - Mechanical Engineering)
David Peck (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
Peggy Zwolinski (Université Grenoble Alpes)
Denis Dowling (University College Dublin)
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Abstract
This chapter presents the lesson learnt from several European projects supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) which integrated remanufacturing (the process of restoring used products to like-new condition) education into the curriculum of engineering and business programs. The projects, implemented in partnership with both universities and companies, designed teaching materials and then experimented with those in formats such as workshops and online digital nuggets on remanufacturing. The projects’ objective was to foster a skilled workforce that could contribute to the transition to a circular economy and to promote sustainable development. The projects emphasized interdisciplinary collaboration in order to promote sustainable product design and supply chain management. The chapter discusses the pedagogical approaches adopted, and offers evaluative case studies illustrating successful implementation in different educational contexts. The projects in question showed that a collaborative approach between universities and companies was effective in promoting the integration of remanufacturing education into the curriculum. The outcomes included the development of a network of educators and industry professionals who could share best practices, experiences, and knowledge related to remanufacturing education. The projects’ success highlights the importance of collaborative European projects in promoting sustainable development and fostering a skilled workforce which can contribute to the transition to a circular economy.