The database is available free of charge and has been designed for students, academic teachers, and all those who want to understand how to practically combine new technologies with a responsible approach to the environment.
– We have built a database that leads to verified videos, publications, online courses, IT tools, and presentations concerning the circular economy and reverse engineering – explains Assoc. Prof. Joanna Ejdys, DSc, PhD, Dean of the Faculty of Management Engineering at Bialystok University of Technology.
Knowledge available to everyone
The collected materials concern, among others, waste management, life cycle analysis, 3D design, and the use of 3D printing. Some of them may be particularly useful for students of technical fields, but the database has been prepared for everyone.
– We want to show a very practical approach. For example, how, using 3D modeling and 3D printers, a damaged product part can be recreated instead of buying a new one – explains Assoc. Prof. Joanna Ejdys, DSc, PhD. – This action reduces waste and extends the life cycle of items.
Users of the database are asked to complete a short survey. Based on it, the database creators will check whether the tool is intuitive and whether the materials really help with learning. Users can also suggest other valuable sources that will enrich the database in the future.
From a knowledge base to custom online courses
The open knowledge base is the first stage of the CircleREdu project. In the next steps, project partners will prepare custom online courses available on an e-learning platform. Each course will focus on a different area – from the circular economy, through reverse engineering, to change management and working on real challenges proposed by companies.
– Anyone interested in extending the life of products, reducing waste, and better utilizing resources will find something for themselves there – emphasizes Assoc. Prof. Joanna Ejdys, DSc, PhD.
Project meeting and collaboration with industry
In December 2025, members of the project team met at Babeș-Bolyai University in Romania to discuss the work done so far and plan the next stages. One part of the meeting was a discussion about collaboration with industry.
A representative of Emerson presented their experience, talking about how the principles of the circular economy and reverse engineering operate in real business environments.
An international project with Bialystok University of Technology
The CircleREdu project is carried out by a consortium of universities from Poland, Germany, Finland, and Romania, as well as a consulting company from Italy. It includes:
- Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences (Finland)
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology KIT (Germany)
- Babeș-Bolyai University (Romania)
The leader of the project is the Faculty of Management Engineering at Bialystok University of Technology.
Each partner is responsible for a different area of work. Bialystok University of Technology focuses on circular economy issues. The German partner brings technical experience in reverse engineering, the Romanian university handles change management in organizations, and the Finnish partner is responsible for business collaboration and case studies.
The CircleREdu project shows that the Erasmus+ program is not only about student and staff exchanges. It is also about jointly creating educational tools that people in different countries can use. The outcome of these efforts includes concrete materials, open access to knowledge, and courses that will soon expand the teaching offer of Bialystok University of Technology and the Faculty of Management Engineering.
Katarzyna Kozioł / Hanna Kość
Photos courtesy of the Faculty of Management Engineering, Bialystok University of Technology.
