Course syllabus for Adaptation to future environments

Course syllabus adopted 2024-02-15 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameAnpassning till en framtida omvärld
  • CodeTRA400
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerTRACKS
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • ThemeMTS 7.5 c
  • DepartmentTRACKS
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 97163
  • Open for exchange studentsYes

Credit distribution

0123 Project 7.5 c
Grading: TH
0 c0 c3.8 c3.7 c0 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.

The course aims to address the emerging challenges of adaptation to the rapidly changing technological, social and natural systems. The very nature of our predicament requires trans- and interdisciplinary collaborations between experts in all fields, therefore, this course brings students together from various disciplines to collaborate and solve real-world challenges through 'live, smart building projects'.

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

Content

In this course students solve a challenge by taking an idea from concept to implementation where a broad range of expertise is required to evolve the way we rethink the physical environment and our place in the world in order to create a more sustainable built environment. The course engages the monumental challenge of transforming a concept and sketch to the thrill of realizing a complete building project together as an interdisciplinary team. Ultimately, the studio aims to foster innovation through the direct interdisciplinary collaboration between students, teachers, researchers, consultants and the manufacturing industry.

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: Sustainable Cities

The first week will be entirely focused on settling in the course¿s main operations, including:
  • a general introduction to the course
  • presentations of the course's main project by the teachers and project partners
  • introduction to safety measures and rules
  • Set up of the overall schedule and work groups
  • Workshop on working as a group
The following weeks are entirely dedicated to the building of the project and are structured with several check-points and supported with a weekly plan-and-log system as well as a continuous evaluation of the outcomes.

Literature

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

Examination including compulsory elements

To pass the course the following is required:
  • Attendance and active participation at lectures/seminars
  • Active participation in group work, presentations and cross critics
  • Delivery of course assignments of sufficient quality (fulfilling the requirements regarding content and presentation of the assignments)

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.