Course syllabus - The Role of the Military Development Officer in Defence Innovation

Objectives

The purpose of the course is to provide the students with knowledge about the specific conditions for working with defence innovation in defence organizations, with a special focus on the specific role of the military development officer in the innovation system. Particular attention is given to the issue of how AI (artificial intelligence) influences the conditions for how exercise activities and technology development can be merged. The course deepens skills in user involving methods in innovation processes.  

Learning outcomes

After completed course, the student should be able to: 
1. describe and explain the specific conditions for working with innovation in defence organizations, with a specific focus on the role of the military development officer 
2. identify, problematize and discuss how AI influences conditions for the relation between exercise- and technology development activities, from scientific, ethical and societal perspectives 
3. perform user-involved development work, using appropriate methods of investigation and adequate ethical principles 
4. visualize suggestions of technology- and doctrine- development in dialogue with users 
5. present completed user-involved technology- and doctrine- development work and discuss lessons learned and ethical considerations

Course content

Organizational and processual conditions for performing innovation work in defence organizations. 
AI and its potential characteristics' influence on user-involvement in innovation work in defence organizations. 
The role and future development of the military development officer. 
Ethical issues linked to innovation work, with a particular focus on AI-development. 
Visualization and presentation of user-involving technology- and doctrine development projects. 
Usage of feedback and lessons-learned in the overarching innovation work. 
Performance of a user-involving development project. 

Requirements

General entry requirements

Examination

Written assignment (INL1), 3 credits, examines the learning outcomes 1-2, marks Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with distinction (VG)
Field study report (FSR1), 7 credits, examines the learning outcomes 3-5, marks Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with distinction (VG)
Seminar (SEM1), 5 credits, examines the learning outcomes 1-5, marks Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with distinction (VG) 

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 with distinction, Pass, Fail