Course syllabus for Innovation and sustainability transitions

Course syllabus adopted 2022-02-13 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameInnovation och omställning
  • CodeTEK760
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerTKGBS
  • Education cycleFirst-cycle
  • Main field of studyGlobal systems, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • ThemeMTS 7.5 c
  • DepartmentTECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMICS
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 74129
  • Maximum participants80
  • Block schedule
  • Open for exchange studentsNo

Credit distribution

0122 Project 7.5 c
Grading: TH		7.5 c

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for bachelor's level (first cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

The same as for the programme that owns the course.
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Aim

The course provides an introduction to research and practice related to innovation and sustainability transitions. The course engages with the role of engineers in processes of change and gives knowledge of approaches to innovation in uncertain and
complex situations. At the more aggregate level, the course introduces framework for the study and analysis of complex systems. At the more detailed level, the course introduces methods and approaches to addressing concrete challenges related to such systems. The course applies project-based learning and provides an opportunity to collaboratively engage as an engineer in sustainability transitions.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

  • Account for the course's main concepts (sustainability transitions, innovation, tetchnology and complex systems) and use these in analysis of and reflection around specific sustainability challenges
  • Apply a socio-technical framework for mapping and analyzing complex systems in terms of components, processes and functions, and identify threats to system sustainability
  • Develop a strategy for analyzing an identified problem from multiple perspectives, using different methods for data collection
  • Explain the principles of different innovation approaches and apply these to address a complex sustainability challenge
  • Apply skills in project management, communication and team work to complete a joint project that involves external stakeholders

Content

The course covers the following topics:
- Perspectives, definitions, critique and examples of the four main concepts: sustainability transitions, innovation, technology and complex systems
- Multiple approaches to innovation for sustainability, including frugal innovation, nature-based solutions, human centered design thinking
- Methods for project management
- Approaches to professional and interdisciplinary team work processes
- Project-based work with real world sustainability challenges

Organisation

The course is structured around lectures, seminars and a bigger team project focused on one or multiple complex sustainability challenges. The project includes a variety of forms of collaboration, tasks and deliverables. The project is led to a high degree by the students themselves and provides experience of working with multiple approaches to problem formulation, data collection and mixed methods, analysis, innovation and communication. The project involves interactions with students from other universities and stakeholders in society.

Literature

Readings for the course will be provided in Canvas.

Examination including compulsory elements

The course is examined by evaluation of combined individual and group performance in a project. Examination includes: 
- written reports, oral and visual presentations, 
- self-reflection, peer review and feedback on other groups' work 
- attendance at seminars, supervision meetings, and final presentations. 

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.