Prerequisite course for this course is: MT195A Global Product Development I (passed)

The overall aim of the course is that the student should acquire an international perspective and understand opportunities and limitations with respect to socially motivated product development and innovation in line with the UN's global sustainability goals.

The course is a continuation of MT195A Global Product Development I and the goal is that the student strengthens his / her ability to contribute to international development co-operation with an interdisciplinary approach and knowledge of the UN’s and aid organizations' activities.

• Socially committed sustainable development as an interdisciplinary field focusing on the role of an engineer; in-depth study of topics covered in the course [LADOK code for Global Product Development I] and broadening towards subject areas such as material selection, power structures, project planning, group dynamics, and communication technology.

• Agenda 2030 for the implementation of the UN's goals for sustainable development

• Goals and conditions for international aid agencies' activities

• Financing of innovation and product development projects in international development cooperation

• Case studies of innovative solutions in development projects

• Group project work: Development of a project proposal with a requirement specification for a product, including proposals for a socially engaged development process and methods for implementation and management from a life-cycle perspective.

• Own studies of both broader and in-depth character in areas that are relevant to the project work.

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:

• account for and use central concepts in social sustainable development

• show in-depth knowledge of and understanding of the meaning of social sustainable development in a global and local context

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the meaning of Agenda 2030

• account for some of the major international aid agencies' activities and conditions for these

• show insight into how interdisciplinary knowledge can contribute to product development and problem-solving

Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to show the ability to:

• identify, obtain and evaluate the necessary information for the implementation of the project work

• prepare a project plan that can form the basis for the application for project financing

• present verbally and in writing results from the project work and in such presentations be able to discuss and argue for his/her assumptions and choices

• demonstrate the ability to communicate his/her project to different groups in society, in particular, international aid agencies and intended aid recipients

Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

• show a critical approach to one's own role as an engineer working towards socially sustainable development in a global context

• show insight into opportunities and limitations for global cooperation in development cooperation

• have developed an academic interdisciplinary approach to product development projects

• demonstrate the ability to make judgments with regard to relevant interdisciplinary aspects that the course addresses.

Lectures and seminars, assignments and project work with supervision.

Requirements for Pass (A-E):

• Approved assignments (1.5 credits, G-U)

• Approved project work (6 credits, A-U)

The final course grade is based on a weighted result of all individual assignments.

Course literature is chosen in consultation with the teachers / supervisors, but the student is also expected to search, evaluate and use relevant literature on his/her own.

Recommended reference literature beyond what is listed for the course MT195A Global Product Development I:

• Chesterman, Simon, Franck, Thomas M., & Malone, David M. (2016) Law and Practice of the United Nations, Oxford University Press

• Graeber, D. (2013) It is value that brings universes into being. HAU: Journal of Ethnographic Theory, 3(2), 219-243

• K. Schwalbe (2016) An Introduction to Project. Management: With a Brief Guide to Microsoft Project. Professional, 6th ed. Schwalbe Publishing.

• Michael F Ashby (2015) Materials and Sustainable Development, 1st, Butterworth-Heinemann.

• Schor, J. (2016) Debating the Sharing Economy, Journal of Self-Governance & Management Economics, 4(3).

• Shove, E. Beyond the ABC: Climate Change Policy and Theories of Social Change. Environ. Plan. A 2010, 42 (6), 1273–1285.

• Shove, E.; Pantzar, M.; Watson, M. (2012) The Dynamics of Social Practice?: Everyday Life and How It Changes; Thousand Oaks, CA?: Sage Publications

• United Nations (2015) Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, A/RES/70/1. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld

• Weiss, T. D. (2008) The Oxford Handbook on the United Nations, Oxford University Press