Author: VICTOR HERMEZ

Over the past few weeks, I completed a course called “Circular Economy: An Introduction,” offered by Delft University of Technology (TU Delft). It was an eye-opening experience that challenged the way I look at every product I own, from my phone to my jeans.

Since the goal of this blog is to share our achievements in this Master degree and how I fit a university course into my schedule, I wanted to share exactly what a MOOC is and why I recommend this specific one.

First things first: What is a MOOC?

If you haven’t taken one before, MOOC stands for Massive Open Online Course. It’s a model of learning that has democratized education in a pretty incredible way.

• Massive: Unlike a normal classroom with 30 students, these courses can have thousands of participants from all over the world learning together.
• Open: You don’t need to apply or be a registered student at the university. Most MOOCs allow you to “audit” the material for free, meaning you can watch the lectures and read the materials without paying a cent (though you can pay a fee if you want a verified certificate for your LinkedIn).
• Online: Everything happens virtually. You watch video lectures, take quizzes, and discuss topics in forums on platforms like edX (where I took this course), Coursera, or Udacity.

It is a fantastic way to upskill without the pressure or cost of a traditional degree.

Course Review: Circular Economy – An Introduction

Provider: Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) Platform: edX Duration: Approx. 7 Weeks

This course wasn’t just about recycling; it was a deep dive into why our current economic model is broken and how we can fix it.

The Core Concept: Linear vs. Circular The course starts by explaining our current “Linear Economy”, the “take-make-waste” model where we extract resources, turn them into products, use them for a short time, and then throw them away.

The Circular Economy, by contrast, is restorative by design. The goal is to keep materials and products in use for as long as possible. A key framework used in the course is the “Butterfly Diagram” (developed by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation), which visualizes two distinct cycles:

1. The Biological Cycle: Food and bio-based materials that can safely return to nature (composting).
2. The Technical Cycle: Metals, plastics, and synthetics that should circulate through reuse, repair, and remanufacturing.

Key Takeaways from the Modules

The course is broken down into “Episodes,” and here were my biggest highlights:

• Business Value: This was surprising. The course argues that circularity isn’t just “nice to have”, it’s profitable. We looked at business models like “Product-as-a-Service,” where companies sell you the performance of a product (like light or mobility) rather than the product itself. This incentivizes them to make things that last longer, rather than things that break easily.
• Remanufacturing vs. Recycling: I learned that recycling should actually be the last resort. It takes a lot of energy to melt down a product. It is much better to repair or remanufacture (refurbish to like-new condition) because it preserves the value and energy already put into the product.
• Waste = Food: Inspired by nature, this module taught that in a true circular system, waste doesn’t exist. Everything becomes “food” or input for the next stage of the cycle.

Final Thoughts

This MOOC did a great job of blending engineering, design, and business strategy. It helps you see the “system” behind the products. You stop seeing a broken toaster as trash and start seeing it as a design flaw, why wasn’t it made to be easily repaired?

If you are interested in sustainability, design, or just want to understand the future of business, I highly recommend checking it out.

Have you ever taken a MOOC ? Let me know in the comments !