The climate is changing, and resources are depleting. The only way to stop this is for people, businesses, and governments to become more sustainable and switch to a circular economy. Join an international group of students, lecturers, scientists, and entrepreneurs and discover how you can help companies become more sustainable.

The body of this broadening minor consists of a multidisciplinary group project. In this project you work for a company that wants to become more sustainable. For instance by developing a sustainable product, finding an application for a waste stream or making their current production process more sustainable. Each year we have new clients and new project ideas.

  It is your and your group's task to come up with a business plan for your client's idea looking at marketing, finances and technical aspects. To be able to do this, your group will consist of 4-5 students with different backgrounds (engineering, environmental science, business, marketing, …).

 

To help you realize an excellent business plan for your client:

• you will have weekly meetings with your group tutor;
• you will can contact specialists on technology, finances, sustainability, and marketing;
• you will have several courses and skills workshops (more information about this can be found under ‘toetsing’).

 

Testimonials:

“We did a very fun project that was really applicable for our client.”

 “I liked working in a team with different backgrounds. It allows you to learn from each other.”

 “This minor helped me to improve my English skills.”

 "I really liked that all the courses are related to the project. The new knowledge that you gain helps you to improve the end result of the project.”

 “The international environment really creates a good atmosphere.”

 

Learning goals

This unique multidisciplinary semester program prepares you for entrepreneurship and marketing in a more sustainable world. Discover how you can help companies make a successful transition to a sustainable and circular approach. You do this together with a group of international students from different study programs. Broaden your knowledge. Strengthen your international network and focus. Be future proof!

Students from all over the world are invited to register for this minor. All communication (both oral and written) will be in English.

Open to students who have a sufficient level of English in speaking and writing.

 

This minor is tailored to the needs of students with a business management and/or marketing, financial, technical or environmental science background. But if you have a different background and are interested in how to help companies to become more sustainable you are very welcome to join this minor.

Not applicable

This minor will start on 2 September 2025, and finish at the end of January 2026.

The minor consists of the following subjects.

 

Introduction weeks (2 ects): In the first two weeks you will have an introduction program. During this program you get to know your fellow minor students and Breda (social program), we introduce you to working in multidisciplinary project teams for a client.

 

Projects

Group project Biobased chains (16 ects): Case study for a company that wants to become more sustainable. For instance by developing a sustainable product, finding an application for a waste stream or making their current production process more sustainable. This video gives you an example of a project:

Biobased Battle Brazil (1 ects): During this one week project, you work together with Brazilian students to find a solution/idea for a Brazilian company that wants to become more sustainable. This video gives you more information on this course.

Courses 

 How to write a business plan (1 ects): This course will teach you more about the content of a business plan. How do you provide a good technical, marketing, financial, and sustainability section for the business plan that you will write for the biobased chains project.

Financial Management (2 ects): This course will teach you all about how to write a sound financial section for your business plan. You will learn that your marketing and technology choices will have an effect on the business revenues and that costs follow logically from the choices you make regarding partners and resources.

Marketing and branding instruments (2 ects): this course gives an overview of the different marketing and branding instruments to market a new (biobased) product or technology. You will apply one or more of these instruments in the group projects.

Sustainable challenges (2 ects): Course that discusses the challenges that companies face when switching towards sustainability (including the role of the different stakeholders).

Circular Business Models (1 ects): a successful introduction of biobased products/innovations requires new innovative business models. How can you value the fact that a product reduces CO2 emissions, has less impact on the environment or uses less valuable resources? And how do you relate this to a financial plan? This course will discuss the latest developments.

Communication Instruments (1 ects): When you work for a client or when you want to market a product, there are different ways of presenting your results such as infographics, blogs or story maps. This course will give an overview of the different options for you to apply in the projects.

(Introduction to) Biobased technologies (1 ects). In this course, you look into the technology part of your biobased chains project. Which technologies are needed to solve the question(s) of your client, which sources are needed (materials, energy, ..) and how can you scale up?

Your future, your path your purpose (1 ects) In this training you explore your qualities, talents, and personal entrepreneurial desires & preferences. We workshop, in small groups on important life questions in an adventurous setting. All students explore individual purpose in life as well as the path and steps they believe are important.

The different courses of the minor are assessed separately and are each awarded a number of ECTS. You are awarded the ECTS if you receive a final grade of 5.5 or higher or a pass for a subject. You are assessed both individually and based on group work. We use different assessment methods depending on the course (written assignment, oral assessment, presence and active participation, presentation). There are NO exams.

Students from all over the world register for this minor. All communication (both oral and written) will be in English.

The Avans study program linked to this minor module is: Milieukunde (ESSET). You will need this information for the enrolment in Studielink

For Avans students: you need to enrol via Osiris. You can find the minor under the faculty of ‘School of Life Sciences and Technology’(Or “Academie voor Life Sciences and Technology”). If you do not succeed, do not hesitate to contact us.