The University of Eastern Finland, Karelia University of Applied Sciences, and Savonia University of Applied Sciences have provided the bioeconomy specialisation education in Eastern Finland since 2018. Education is targeted for the people who work, or will be working, in the field of bioeconomy in companies, consultation or promotion tasks, or as vocational teachers, or who operate in the public sector to promote bioeconomy. The training is suited for entrepreneurs or individuals who aim to become entrepreneurs in the field of, for example, bio-based production and raw material procurement for bioproducts. The applicants must have a suitable university degree or other degree suitable for the field of bioeconomy.
Skills objectives:
After completing the studies, students will:
- be able to identify, evaluate and develop new bioeconomy services and products according to consumers’ current and anticipated needs
- have mastered the biomass streams related to production as well as bioeconomy side streams and their potential uses, while taking into account the characteristics of the biomass and utilising the possibilities of circular economy and digitalisation
- be able to combine existing processes from different fields and identify new production and utilisation processes for biomass
- be able to manage bioeconomy innovation processes
- be able to network with other regional, national and international operators and create new networks
- be able to evaluate the societal, ecological, cultural and social impact of bioeconomy
- know the key principles and methods of sustainable management of biomass production and use, including legislation.
Programme structure
The training will be carried out in modules. Each module is assigned to a certain university, which is responsible for the teaching.
The programme comprises three modules:
- Bioeconomy in society (8 cu)
- Processes of bioeconomy (12-22 cu)
- Complementary studies (0-10 cu)
The module “Bioeconomy in society” is mandatory for everyone and comprises the following courses:
- From fossil-based economy towards bioeconomy (2 cu)
- Bioeconomy as Network economy (2 cu)
- Bioeconomy foresight and innovations (2 cu)
- Expertise and leadership of change in bioeconomy (2 cu)
From the module of “Processes of bioeconomy” course Bioeconomy Project (7 cu) is mandatory for everyone. Students also select at least one five-credit-unit course from the module of “Processes of bioeconomy”.
Courses available in the “Processes of bioeconomy” module:
Forests, bioeconomy and climate (5 cu) University of Eastern Finland
Biorefining (5 cu) University of Eastern Finland
Circular economy and carbon footprint (5 cu) Savonia University of Applied Sciences
Bioeconomy and energy (5 cu) Karelia University of Applied Sciences
In addition, students can choose from zero to ten credit units of complementary studies. These studies will be agreed in the personal curriculum, which will be drawn up at the beginning of the studies. Complementary studies can include courses from the “Processes of bioeconomy” module or other suitable courses offered by the universities in the consortium.
