Blue and Circular Economy

Master’s Programme

The transition to the circular economy is one of the European Union’s major goals, and to this end, it is important to empower the actors and entities directly involved in socio-economic development processes. This transition is particularly relevant in the context of the blue economy, where the vast majority of sectors depend on bio-resources and the proper functioning of marine ecosystems that sustain services that are central to the survival of humanity.
This masters’ program will address these issues, as well as the existing and innovative solutions, examples of interactions between academia, industry, and public authorities to promote the blue economic and social development of coastal communities. In addition, bioproducts and biomaterials that create systems that tend to be waste-free will also be addressed.
Business models based on the circular economy will be developed, fostering innovative solutions for the blue economy that can contribute to the socio-economic development.

Programme Coordinator

João Pedro Santos Correia
joao.correia@ipleiria.pt

School

Technology and Management,

Tourism and Maritime Technology

City

Leiria,

Peniche

Language

Portuguese

Type

B-learning

Length

4 Semesters

Vacancies

General and International student contingent: 25

Notice

Edital 2024 (PT Doc)

DGES certification

Link to Registration

Objectives

Programme

Apply new theories of change from the linear model to a circular economy;
Conceive, in the context of the circular economy, more sustainable products;
Master concepts associated with the valuation of ecosystem services and natural capital;
Understand the importance of the restoration of marine ecosystems for the sustainable development of the blue economy;
Recognize the environmental impacts of products and processes and their importance to the economy;
Assess the technical possibilities of innovation and co-creation processes, and industrial, service, community, andprimary production systems to minimize environmental impacts;
Adopt and innovate new technical solutions to develop the economic and industrial sector, promoting the circulareconomy.
Understand the importance of the circular economy for the sustainability of the oceans.
Understand the context of the blue and circular economy at the national and European levels.

Study Plan

ECTS: 120

1 Year
2 Year

1 Year
ID	Name	Semester	ECTS	Length
	Principles and Tools of Circular Economy	1S	5	42 h
Syllabus: The concept of circular economy 1.1 Framework 1.2 Definition of circular economy 1.3 Value chain: closing the cycle Case studies: the transition from the linear to the circular economy A circular world: aligning sustainability with profit 3.1 Examples of circular economy The circular economy and the future Implementation of the circular economy The circular economy and sustainability 6.1 Sustainability 6.2 Environmental considerations 6.3 The social factor 7. Methodologies for analysis of the Circular Economy 7.1 Available indicators (Cost/benefit analysis, Life cycle assessment, Value chain assessment, Agent-Based Modelling,Ecological Footprint, Ecosystem value, or others).
	Bioeconomy	1S	5	42 h
Syllabus: Concept of bio-economy, Production of biomass, Biorefinery, Bioconversion, Sustainability of resources, Consumer behavior, Marketing and Business, Logistics and supply chains, Economics and regulations.
	Sustainability and Valorization of Marine Resources (Elective)	1S	5	42 h
Syllabus: Biodiversity of marine resources Sustainable exploitation of marine resources Sustainable production of marine resources 3.1 Innovation in Aquaculture 3.2 Growth of macroalgae Valorisation and innovation of products of marine origin 4.1 Valuing under-exploited resources 4.2 Recovery of by-products 4.3 Technologies and pipelines for the bioprospection of marine compounds and materials 4.4 Assessment of the bioactive potential of marine constituents for application in industry 4.5 Case studies: application in different value chains
	Management, Design and Modelling of Circular Economy	1S	5	42 h
Syllabus: Central elements of resource efficiency and the circular economy: 1.1 Industrial ecology 1.2 Supply Chain Management Design, manufacture, use, reuse, repair, remanufacturing, recycling and waste management 2.1 Product design and development 2.2 Production engineering 2.3 User-oriented design 2.4 Waste management 2.5 Life Cycle assessment 2.6 Case studies: the transition from linear to the circular economy Management of change: 3.1 Change management in business 3.2 Public Policies for the Circular Economy Case studies: Real cases of the circular economy.
	Natural Capital and Ecosystem Services (Elective)	1S	5	42 h
Syllabus: The concept of natural capital. Ecosystem services: definition, categories, applications. Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES), 3.1 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) 3.2 The Economics of Ecosystem and Biodiversity (TEEB) Mapping and Quantification of Ecosystem Services 4.1 Indicators 4.2 Mapping and Evaluation of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES) – Types of mapping (Corine Land Cover (CLC), Portuguese Land Use and Land Cover Map (COS), and Ecosystem Types of Europe, PPGIS/PGIS, or others). 4.3 Assessment of condition/state 4.4 Indicators for the economic valuation of Ecosystem Services. Case Studies.
	Monitoring and Restoration of Marine Ecosystems (Elective)	1S	5	32 h
Syllabus: Fundamental concepts of conservation and restoration of ecology Restoration of Populations and Communities Ecological processes The Restoration of ecological functions: the spatial and temporal dimensions Planning the ecological restoration The role of social processes in planning ecological restoration Restoration of different marine ecosystems Policy and management issues
	Coastal Tourism and Circular Economy (Elective)	1S	5	32 h
Syllabus: Tourism in coastal areas a. Characterization of tourism dynamics in coastal areas b. Main threats and impacts Tourism planning in coastal areas a. Strategic planning of tourism b. Planning instruments c. Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Contributions of coastal tourism to the circular economy: Analysis of case studies a. Tourist enterprises: accommodation, catering, entertainment, and related services b. Transport c. Energy and consumption patterns d. Water management e. Waste
	Climate Change and the Circular Economy (Elective)	1S	5	32 h
Syllabus: Introduction to climatic change a. Global climate system and terrestrial energy balance b. Climate modeling and emission scenarios c. Impacts of climate change on various sectors of society (Tourism, Oceans and Water Resources, among others) Mechanisms for quantification of greenhouse gas emissions a. Sectoral analysis (Oceans and water resources, energy, agriculture, health, economy, and tourism, among others) b. Tools for quantification of emissions Climate adaptation measures and processes a. Types of adaptation measures b. Ongoing adaptation processes Contributions of the circular economy to decarbonization a. Hotspot Identification Tools (SCP-HAT) b. Circular city scan Analysis of case studies
	Blue Management and Governance	2S	5	42 h
Syllabus: Marine Strategy Framework Directive OSPAR Convention Maritime spatial planning Ecosystem Approach to Marine Management a. Analysis of case studies Integrated Maritime Policy Mechanisms for shared management of living resources a. Co-management systems in fisheries b. Model of co-management of protected areas Data science applied to the management of marine ecosystems a. Collecting data through Citizen Science b. Emerging technologies for data collection and processing (Artificial Intelligence, Machine learning and Blockchain)
	Entrepreneurship and Blue Innovation (Elective)	2S	5	32 h
Syllabus: Introduction to entrepreneurship Innovation as a driver of competitiveness Relevance of the Blue Economy – traditional sectors and emerging sectors Facilitators of the Blue Economy The potential of digital technologies in the Blue Economy Recognizing opportunities and generating business ideas in the context of the Blue Economy Feasibility analysis and business plan Intellectual property
	Renewable Energies (Elective)	2S	5	32 h
Syllabus: Energy and Renewable Energy Sources, Renewable energies and the circular economy, Hydro, Wind and Geothermal Energy, Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic Energy, Bioenergy and Biofuels, Energy from the Oceans, Energy Systems, Energy in the Future.
	Blue Economy (Elective)	2S	5	32 h
Syllabus: The Blue Economy: description, current status, and future trends The economy of Azul in Portugal 2.1 Description, current status, and trends 2.2 The Portuguese Sea Satellite Account 2.3 The PwC index of the Portuguese Sea Economy (2010 – 2020) Established sectors of the sea economy and their subsectors: economic performance and key indicators Emerging maritime economy sectors and their subsectors: economic performance and key indicators The blue economy from the historical point of view Markets and functioning of the sea economy (transport, ports, and fisheries) Analysis of case studies 7.1 Training and skills for the blue economy 7.2 Financing, R&D and Innovation in the Blue Economy
	Blue Growth and Innovation Policy (Elective)	2S	5	32 h
Syllabus: National and European policies for blue growth and financing mechanisms Atlantic Strategy – Action Plan for the Atlantic Ocean Area A European strategy for blue growth and green growth Collaborative processes for innovation and entrepreneurship – 3x to 5x propeller model Structures and mechanisms to support innovation and entrepreneurship a. Incubators and accelerators for the blue economy b. Knowledge and technology transfer platforms c. Economic clusters Research link – economy for blue growth a. National and European case studies b. Collaborative laboratories Co-promotion mechanisms Social innovation and blue growth
	Marine Pollution and the Circular Economy (Elective)	2S	5	32 h
Syllabus: Marine pollution: 1.1 Origins, destination, scale 1.2 Types of marine pollution 1.3 Ecological, environmental and socio-economic impacts Regulation of pollution 2.1 National legislation 2.2 International programs and conventions Instruments to identify sources of pollution Pollution mapping. Measures to prevent or reduce marine pollution Solutions to eliminate or minimize pollution in the context of the circular economy. Case studies.
	Innovation and Co-creation Project	2S	15	96 h
Syllabus: Co-creation: concepts and value Co-creation and innovation Creativity and Design Thinking The process of Co-Creation of Innovation: from Ideation to the development process Tools for co-creating innovation; The discovery of people and context; The analysis of solution proposals.

2 Year
ID	Name	Semester	ECTS	Length
	Dissertation / Project / Insternship	1S / 2S	60

Entry Requirements

Holders of a degree in Biology, Marine Sciences, Economics, Management, Engineering, Tourism, and related areas;
Holders of a foreign higher education degree awarded following a first cycle of studies organized in accordance with the principles of the Bologna Process, in the areas listed in paragraph 1 above;
Holders of a foreign higher academic degree recognized as fulfilling the objectives of the degree in the areas of paragraph 1, by the Scientific-Technical Council of ESTM and/or ESTG;
Holders of a school, scientific or professional curriculum that is recognized as attesting to the ability of the ESTM and/or ESTG Scientific-technical Council to carry out this cycle of studies.
Entrepreneurs in the area of the blue and round economy;
Graduates in search of specialization in the area of blue and circular economy;
Entrepreneurs, managers and technicians of public bodies related to the blue economy.

Accreditation

State: Accredited
Nº years of Accreditation: 6
Dateof Publication: 02/09/2021
A3ES Accreditation

More Information

E-mail: estudante.internacional@ipleiria.pt

Application Fee

60 €

Enrolment Fee

General contingent: 50 €
International student contingent: 100 €

Tuition Fee

General contingent: 1040 €
International student contingent: 3000 €