Skip to main content
Till KTH:s startsida

AG1815 Sustainable Development, ICT and Innovation 7.5 credits

Administer About course

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.

Information per course offering

Course offerings are missing for current or upcoming semesters.

Course syllabus as PDF

Please note: all information from the Course syllabus is available on this page in an accessible format.

Course syllabus AG1815 (Spring 2022–)
Headings with content from the Course syllabus AG1815 (Spring 2022–) are denoted with an asterisk ( )

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.

Literature and preparations

Specific prerequisites

90 hp where of 45 hp in mathematics or or information technology including knowledge corresponding to: IS1200 Coputer hardware engineering 7.5hp, ID1005 Algorithms and data structures 7.5hp and IK1203 Networks and communication 7.5 hp.

Equipment

No information inserted

Literature

No information inserted

Examination and completion

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

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)

Opportunity to complete the requirements via supplementary examination

No information inserted

Opportunity to raise an approved grade via renewed examination

No information inserted

Examiner

Profile picture Anna Björklund

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

Course room in Canvas

Registered students find further information about the implementation of the course in the course room in Canvas. A link to the course room can be found under the tab Studies in the Personal menu at the start of the course.

Offered by

ABE/Sustainability and Environmental Engineering

Main field of study

Technology

Education cycle

First cycle

Add-on studies

No information inserted

Contact

Anna Björklund (annab@kth.se)

Transitional regulations

Last teaching opportunity: VT22

The course is discontinued from HT22

Last examination occasion: VT24

Number of examination opportunities per academic year during the transition period: Two

Teaching during the transition period: No

The course is replaced by: AL1523

Examination:

With examiner's approval;

  • AG1815 (PRO1) is replaced by (PRO1) within AL1523
  • AG1815 (INLA) is replaced by (TEN1) within AL1523
  • AG1815 (INL2 + NÄR1) is replaced by individual written tasks within AL1523