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AG1815 Sustainable Development, ICT and Innovation 7,5 hp

Course memo Spring 2022-60604

Version 1 – 12/21/2021, 10:22:17 PM

Course offering

Spring 2022-1 (Start date 18/01/2022, English)

Language Of Instruction

English

Offered By

ABE/Sustainability and Environmental Engineering

Course memo Spring 2022

Course presentation

The course "Sustainable development, ICT and innovation" is given to students in year 3 of the bachelor and master of science programs in information technology at KTH. The goal is to give students basic knowledge of society's sustainability challenges (with a focus on the environment and social sustainability), and to give understanding of and practical experience in how they can contribute solutions to sustainability challenges in their future professional role. The course includes a project work where the students apply knowledge and skills within ICT to various problems with connection to sustainable development. The project work is carried out in collaboration with an external client, who formulates an overall project proposal around a problem with connection to ICT and sustainable development.

Headings denoted with an asterisk ( * ) is retrieved from the course syllabus version Spring 2019

Content and learning outcomes

Course contents

The course is based on lectures as well as discussions in smaller groups in seminars. In addition to that there is a project assignment and a computer laboration.

Lectures cover:

  • The concept of sustainable development, the sustainability goals of society and societal challenges
  • ICT and sustainable development - how ICT may be a positive driver for sustainable development, but also mean risks and negative impacts
  • Innovations and business opportunities - examples with company perspective
  • Environmetnal and sustainability assessment with systems perspective (in general and with specific applications for the ICT sector)

Seminars will be held in connection to the lectures. Students will prepare seminar discussions by reading part of the course literature ocnd prepare written assignments. In this way active participation is facilitated both at the lectures and the seminars.

The project assignment will in a concrete way relate to both ICT and sustainable development, and may be performed in collaboration with relevant companies and other actors.

Intended learning outcomes

The purpose of the course is to give basic knowledge on sustainable development. Mainly in relation to environmental problems and social aspects. ICT-solutions (information and communication solutions) may be used to make resource use more efficient and may make possible changes in processes and practices for sustainable development, but may also cause increased environmental problems and negative social impacts. Within the course we will reflect on different opportunities and problems related to ICT-solutions and these will be illustrated with concrete examples from the sector. There will be discussions on how sustainable development could be facilitated by ICT-solutions, and the aim is that you will later be able to use your knowledge in order to support sustainable development in your daily profession

The course goals are that the student after taking this course will be able to:

  • present and problematize the concept of sustainable development, mainly in relation to environmental oblems and social aspects
  • present and problematize political goals for sustainable development that are set in society
  • describe and discuss different environmental and social problems in society where ICT-solutions could be useful
  • on a generic level analyse environmental consequences of ICT-solutions/applications with a systems perspective
  • understand that environmental and sustainability problems are often complex and may be inadequatley defined, and sometimes give rise to goal conflicts.
  • use knowledge on sustainable development in situations where ICT-solutions are planned, developed or used, suggest ways to integrate this perspective and reflect on the potential in innovation.

Preparations before course start

Literature

The course literature (articles, reports, and on-line media) for each lecture is listed in the overview of lectures on Canvas in Modules. It is available on Canvas or can be accessed online from other sites.

Note that the literature and other sources of information for each lecture serves as complement to the lecture. Use it as reference material for writing assignments and preparing for seminars in the course. You are not expected to study and learn all the content.

Examination and completion

Grading scale

A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Examination

  • INL2 - Assignment, 0.5 credits, Grading scale: P, F
  • INLA - Literature Assignment, 2.5 credits, Grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
  • NÄR1 - Attendance, 0.5 credits, Grading scale: P, F
  • PRO1 - Project Assignment, 4.0 credits, Grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

Other requirements for final grade

Assignment, (INL1; 3 cr; Project assignment (PRO2; 4 cr),  Assignment, (INL2; 0,5 hp)

Grading criteria/assessment criteria

The final grade is calculated as the average of the Literature assignment (INLA) and the Project assignment (PRO1) (equal weight). Grading templates for Project and Literature assignments are available to students in Canvas.

PRO1: Project (4 credits, A-F)

The project is carried out in groups of five, on a topic provided by a company or organisation. It combines knowledge about sustainable development taught in this course with ICT knowledge and skills from previous parts of your educational programme. Project work entails independent group work and submission of weekly status reports, attending supervision meetings, and attending project seminars.

  • Detailed instructions for project work are found on Canvas in Modules.
  • Attendance at project seminars and supervision meetings is compulsory. If you cannot attend, you need to do a written compensation. Instructions can be found on Canvas in “Assignments/Attendance”.
  • Report content and quality as well as work process count for the final grade.
  • Project is graded A-Fx.

Fx means that at least one aspect of the project is incomplete and must be supplemented. After supplementing only grade E will be given that specific aspect.

INL2: Thematic seminars and response papers (0.5 credits, P/F)

Response papers are prepared in advance of and discussed during two thematic seminars. Feedback on response papers is provided through discussions at the thematic seminar.

  • Detailed instructions for Thematic seminars are found on Canvas in Modules.
  • Attendance at thematic seminars is compulsory.
  • If you cannot attend, you need to participate in a compensation seminar. Instructions can be found on Canvas in “Assignments/Attendance”.

Response papers are graded as Pass/Fail.

INLA: Literature assignment (2.5 credits, A-F)

The literature assignment covers material from lectures, thematic seminars, the course literature, and your own literature search.

  • Detailed instructions for Literature assignment is found on Canvas in Modules.
  • Literature assignment is graded A-Fx.
  • Fx means that the assignment is incomplete and needs to be supplemented within six weeks. After supplementing from Fx, only grade E will be given.
  • If you do not complete the literature assignment, you need to re-register for the course next year to submit.

NÄR1: Lectures (0.5 credits, P/F)

The lectures cover sustainable development and its relation to ICT and digitalization from different perspectives. A detailed overview is available on Canvas in Modules.

Active participation at lectures is important, since it will help you to perform well on the response papers, project, and literature assignment.

  • Attendance is checked in lectures. If you miss more than two lectures, you need to do written compensation assignments. Instructions can be found on Canvas in “Assignments/Attendance”.
  • Attendance is graded as pass/fail (P/F).

Opportunity to raise an approved grade via renewed examination

This course does not offer opportunity to raise an approved grade via renewed examination.

Alternatives to missed activities or tasks

Supplementary examination through written compensation assignments and attendance in a supplementary seminar is possible in case of missed attendance in compulsory activities. Details are described on Canvas in "Assignments/Attendance".

Ethical approach

  • All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
  • In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
  • In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.

Further information

Changes of the course before this course offering

Minor changes have been made to the contents in lectures since 2021. No other changes in content have been made.

Round Facts

Start date

18 Jan 2022

Course offering

  • Spring 2022-60604

Language Of Instruction

English

Offered By

ABE/Sustainability and Environmental Engineering