Course syllabus - Responsible Innovation

Objectives

The purpose of the course is to increase knowledge of how people's activities affect society and the environment and the importance to early on in development processes reflecting on possible consequences for individuals, society and the environment. The course aims to provide basic knowledge of how responsible innovation and development can be practiced so that development goals are socially desirable and achieved through processes that are democratic, fair and sustainable.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, the student shall be able to:
1. describe and explain concepts, approaches and processes that are central to responsible innovation and sustainable development
2. identify and describe how responsible development processes can enable socially desirable and long-term sustainable goals
3. identify and discuss possible obstacles and conflicts of interest that may arise in responsible development processes, and propose possible solutions
4. discuss different purposes of bringing the perspectives of civil society organizations and/or citizens into the research and development processes

Course content

Perspectives on responsible innovation. 
Value Sensitive Design (VSD). 
Transformative service research (TSR) 
Ethical dilemmas in innovation and development. 
Governance and regulation of innovation at several levels (social, organization, individual). 
Sustainable Development; Socially, economically, environmentally. 
UN Sustainability Goals and Agenda 2030. 
Future-oriented responsibility. 
Citizen science. 
Methods for anticipating, reflecting and involving.

Requirements

General entry requirements

Examination

Exercise (OVN1), 2,5 credits, examines learning outcomes 2-4, marks Fail (U) or Pass (G)
Assignment (INL1), 2,5 credits, examines learning outcomes 1-4, marks Fail (U) or Pass (G)

A student who has a certificate from MDU regarding a disability has the opportunity to submit a request for supportive measures during written examinations or other forms of examination, in accordance with the Rules and Regulations for Examinations at First-cycle and Second-cycle Level at Mälardalen University (2020/1655). It is the examiner who takes decisions on any supportive measures, based on what kind of certificate is issued, and in that case which measures are to be applied.

Suspicions of attempting to deceive in examinations (cheating) are reported to the Vice-Chancellor, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, and are examined by the University’s Disciplinary Board. If the Disciplinary Board considers the student to be guilty of a disciplinary offence, the Board will take a decision on disciplinary action, which will be a warning or suspension.

Grade

Pass, Fail

Interim Regulations and Other Regulations

The course overlaps completely with INO202 Responsible Innovation.