The main objectives of the project were: To create awareness about the importance to develop new curricula for vocational training within healthcare which includes circular management topics from a transdisciplinary approach. To provide with a practical knowledge based on real life experiences. This facilitates the use of existing knowledge and systematize it for the benefit of healthcare workers in two European countries. To have a scalable program that can influence the region (Europe) to accelerate the sustainable transformation of the healthcare sector, and with this impact sustainable development in a broader sense. This by improving the conditions of healthcare workers, foster innovation and collaboration between different actors in the region, and have a direct impact on environment. To increase the flexibility of opportunities in education and training for healthcare sectors with the possibility to replicated the experience in other sectors who can benefit from a systemic circular management perspective. Proving that circular economy rules can be implemented in such a difficult area as healthcare. To improve the performance of European healthcare sectors by make them more sustainable, resilient and resource efficient.
Healthcare sector is in a cross-road of multiple systemic transformations. Driving forces such as climate crisis, aging society and digitalization create a situation that demand that the staff have special skills and practical knowledge about sustainability. For the non-medical healthcare workers this means the need to adapt and build better skills and employability conditions. These needs of vocational and education training were addressed with the project Circle Health, by developing material for a new curricula for vocational training. The main area of knowledge is Circular management models as a way to provide a complete panorama of different aspects of sustainability within healthcare facilities, such as waste management, energy efficiency, among others. The project also addressed the need that the vocational learning should include a practical experience. In this case, the possibility to visit installations and see in real life some of the topics included in the developed toolkit. The project established a small-scale partnership between two relevant organisations. The partnership bring a transdisciplinary and innovative perspective over practical tools and best practices by combining both organisations' characteristics.