Course syllabus for Socio-technical systems

Course syllabus adopted 2024-02-14 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameSocio-tekniska system
  • CodeTEK820
  • Credits7 Credits
  • OwnerTKGBS
  • Education cycleFirst-cycle
  • Main field of studyGlobal systems
  • ThemeMTS 5 c
  • DepartmentTECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMICS
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language Swedish
  • Application code 74129
  • Open for exchange studentsNo
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0124 Written and oral assignments 7 c
Grading: TH		0 c7 c0 c0 c0 c0 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 purpose of the course is to familiarize the students with society's basic, large and global socio-technical and industrial systems. The course includes developing knowledge about how systems have developed over time, who wins and loses from a sustainable transition of existing systems, and communicating this knowledge to relevant target groups. This knowledge includes e.g. political and ethical implications that influence the desirability of the systems.

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

• Use basic concepts in innovation and sustainability transitions, large technical systems and ethics.
• Apply above theories to explain the emergence and critically analyze the conditions for change of socio-technical and industrial systems in different social dimensions (e.g. political and ethical),
• construct feasible socio-technical development solutions for a number of key systems and understand its implications in multiple dimensions, including political and ethical, and
• communicate their understanding in clearly formulated, and substantiated, arguments to a relevant target group, such as political decision-makers and other stakeholders, who are affected by the systems being studied
• Reflect on one's own and others' learning and actions in relation to socio-technical systems to promote diversity, inclusion and increased equality.

Content

The course builds on the knowledge gained in the course "introduction to global systems". In the course, student-led deep dives will be made into the development of socio-technical and industrial systems that in many ways define the society we live in. Through lectures, seminars, individual tasks, comparison of different systems will be carried out and different aspects linked to the systems' technical and social dimensions to be detailed. In addition to a system-based knowledge of individual systems, the students will acquire basic theoretical knowledge of large technical systems, innovation and conversion processes. These skills will be further developed in the courses "society as a system" and "innovation and change".

Organisation

The course consists of a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops and activities to support the students' learning process. The focus of the course is on student-led project work, presentations, individual assignments and peer feedback. It will be required that the students themselves identify and analyze relevant information.

Literature

Distributed material and web resources, as well as material identified by the students themselves.

Examination including compulsory elements

This course uses continuous examination. The elements that are examined consist of individual assignments, group work and a final exam. To achieve grade G, all elements must be approved

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.