Course syllabus for Engineering across cultures and nations

The course syllabus contains changes
See changes

Course syllabus adopted 2024-03-18 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameIngenjörsarbete inom olika kulturer och länder
  • CodeTRA325
  • Credits15 Credits
  • OwnerTRACKS
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • ThemeMTS 15 c
  • DepartmentTRACKS
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

The course round is cancelled. For further questions, please contact the director of studies
  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 97138
  • Open for exchange studentsYes

Credit distribution

0123 Project 15 c
Grading: TH		0 c0 c0 c0 c15 c0 c

In programmes

Examiner

Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second 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

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

In addition to the general requirements to study at advanced level at Chalmers, necessary subject or project specific prerequisite competences (if any) must be fulfilled. Alternatively, the student must obtain the necessary competences during the course. The examiner will formulate and check these prerequisite competences.

The student will only be admitted in agreement with the examiner.

Aim

The aim of the course is to provide a platform to work and solve challenging cross-disciplinary authentic problems from different stakeholders in society such as the academy, industry or public institutions. Additionally, the aim is that students from different educational programs practice working efficiently in global multidisciplinary development teams.

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


Valid for all Tracks courses:
  • critically and creatively identify and/or formulate advanced architectural or engineering problems
  • master problems with open solutions spaces which includes to be able to handle uncertainties and limited information.
  • lead and participate in the development of new products, processes and systems using a holistic approach by following a design process and/or a systematic development process.
  • work in multidisciplinary teams and collaborate in teams with different compositions
  • show insights about cultural differences and to be able to work sensitively with them.
  • show insights about and deal with the impact of architecture and/or engineering solutions in a global, economic, environment and societal context.
  • identify ethical aspects and discuss and judge their consequences in relation to the specific problem
  • orally and in writing explain and discuss information, problems, methods, design/development processes and solutions
  • fulfill project specific learning outcomes
Course specific:
  • Demonstrate a proficiency in team-building, leadership, and service in the context of crosscultural engineering teams.
  • Construct creative solutions to engineering issues incorporating cultural differences among team members and external stakeholders.
  • Critically analyze personal and team-member competencies and biases.
  • Formulate and apply strategies to improve engineering team dynamics.
  • Provide effective feedback, recognition, motivation, and corrective guidance for
  • international/intercultural team members.
  • Evaluate strategies for the diffusion of ideas within international and cross-cultural markets.
  • Examine moral, ethical, and legal dilemmas in cross-cultural engineering environments.

Content

This course focuses on the primary knowledge areas and essential competencies necessary for engineers to thrive in today’s global marketplace. Students will study individual and cultural differences and how they affect communication and team dynamics. As part of an international, multicultural engineering team, students will work on a realworld virtual team project. Ultimately, students will benefit from this
diverse team while producing effective solutions to challenging engineering problems.

Organisation

The course is run by a teaching team.
The main part of the course is a challenge driven project. The challenge may range from being broad societal to profound research driven. The project task is solved in a group. The course is supplemented by on-demand teaching and learning of the skills necessary for the project. The project team will have one university examiner, one or a pole of university supervisors and one or a pole of external co-supervisors if applicable.

Tracks-theme: Summer course

This Tracks course is a summer course run by Penn State (Pennsylvania State University) and is open to Chalmers’ students. Most of the lectures and information will be provided by teachers at Penn State. Students from Chalmers and Penn State will collaborate in international engineering teams during the course.

Literature

Relevant literature is retrieved and acquired by the students as a part of the project.

Hofstede, G., Hofstede, G. J., & Minkov, M. (2010) Cultures and Organisations, Software of the Mind, 3rd Edition. McGraw Hill. ISBN-13: 9780071664189

Examination including compulsory elements

Quizzes, Individual and Team Project Assignments. Video presentations. Individual final assignment and reflectio.

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.

The course syllabus contains changes

  • Changes to course rounds:
    • 2024-03-17: Cancelled Changed to cancelled by UOL
      [Course round 1] Cancelled