AG1815 Sustainable Development, ICT and Innovation 7.5 credits
This course will be discontinued.
Last planned examination: Spring 2024
Decision to discontinue this course:
The course will be discontinued at the end of VT 2024 according to school head decision: A-2022-2069.
Decision date: 2022-09-26
The course is offered for the last time in VT 2022. The last opportunity to take an examination in the course is in VT 2024.
For students who have started but not completed AG1815, the examination is replaced during the transition period as follows: PRO1 in AG1815 is replaced by project work in the new course AL1523. INLA (literature assignment) is replaced by TEN1 (home exam). In these cases, the student must contact the examiner before the course start of AL1523. INL2 (submission task), and NÄR1 (attendance) are replaced by individual written tasks. These can be submitted continuously during the year after contact with the examiner. Students who have not started AG1815 instead read the new course AL1523 in its entirety.
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.
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.
Course disposition
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.
Recommended prerequisites
Equipment
Literature
Examination and completion
If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.
Grading scale
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
Opportunity to raise an approved grade via renewed examination
Examiner
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 web
Further information about the course can be found on the Course web at the link below. Information on the Course web will later be moved to this site.
Course web AG1815Offered by
Main field of study
Education cycle
Add-on studies
Contact
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