Most popular programs
Trending now
Apply theories, tools and best practices needed to design circular products or services for hospitals and other healthcare organizations.
After a course session ends, it will be archived.
Developing or improving medical devices to ensure a continuous supply for an exponentially growing population is a critical factor in making healthcare more sustainable.
This course will help you to make the transition towards a circular economy and create value in the healthcare industry on the supplier side. It has wide applications – designers and engineers working for MedTech manufacturers and suppliers; as well as students, managers, industry reps, sales teams or policy makers – anyone interested in knowing more about what circular design entails and how to support the improvement of product development, how to steer teams or give guidance to relevant stakeholders.
This course uses an interdisciplinary approach to create sustainable solutions in the healthcare supply industry using circular economy principles. It includes business cases with examples of circular strategies presented by experts in the field.
After taking this course you will understand the fundamentals of the circular economy and urban mining. You will learn how to create supplier value with circular strategies such as reuse, maintenance, repair, remanufacturing, and recycling of medical devices.
You will also learn how to create or stimulate circular product and circular process design. Finally, you will identify entrepreneurial possibilities and smart solutions to create a circular proposal with recommendations for your organization.
This course is part of the program Circular Strategies for Sustainable Healthcare developed by TU Delft’s MedTech experts in close collaboration with industry and renowned institutes. These courses provide not only academic insights but also practical tools and examples which can be implemented in any healthcare organization, and can help you propose and develop your own circular solutions and programs.
Free e-book
In addition to 24/7 online access to video lectures and other course material, you will receive an electronic copy of the brand-new book 'Creating a Circular Healthcare Economy'. This book will further equip you to drive sustainable change and embrace circularity in the healthcare sector.
Accredited Course
This course is accredited by the Dutch Association for Specialists in Sterile Medical Tools (VDSMH) and by the Dutch Association for Hospital Instrumentation Technicians (VZI). Learners who successfully complete the course and obtain a certificate can request Professional Development Points.
Week 1: Fundamentals of the circular economy
In this week you will learn the fundamentals of the circular economy. Topics which we will cover this week are:
Week 2: Applying circular strategies
In this week you will learn to apply circular approaches. Topics which we will cover this week are:
Week 3: Urban mining
Topics which we will cover this week are:
Week 4: Waste streams
Topics which we will cover this week are:
Week 5: Circular product and process design
Topics which we will cover this week are:
Week 6: Creating a circular product or process proposal
Topics which we will cover this week are:
Week 7: Closing week
In this week we will wrap-up and provide main takeaways as well as additional resources and information. Literature reviews and finding relevant publications were part of this course and we will provide you with more relevant literature on this topic.
Do I need to take an introductory course to be able to follow this course?
No, this is not required, but an interest in the circular economy is essential. This program has been designed so that knowledge is acquired gradually. The courses focus on the medical field, but given their multi-disciplinary approach, they are suitable for a broad audience with interest in learning how to reduce waste streams and/or gain valuable insights into circular business models to use in other sectors or to become more circular on the purchasing side.
Do I need to take the courses in the proposed order?
You may choose to enroll in any course of your choice based on your background knowledge or experience. The courses give insights from a number of different perspectives.
If I want a certificate, which course should I follow?
The verified track offers a certificate if completed successfully. With verified access you are able to complete all graded quizzes and assignments. A minimum score of 60% is required in order to pass. If you are interested in the full program (2 courses) you will receive a Professional Program Certificate and benefit from a further reduced bundle price.
How much time do these courses take?
Each course is 7 weeks long and set up in modules but these are self-paced, meaning that you can study in your own time. You can expect an average study load of 6-8 hours per week when following the standard timeline (1 module per week).
What assessment methods are used in these courses?
A combination of literature reading/review with multiple choice quizzes and assignments are used to test your understanding of the content of the course.
