Main Field of Study and progress level:
Industrial Design: Second cycle, has second-cycle course/s as entry requirements
Grading scale: Pass, Fail
Responsible department: Umeå Institute of Design (UID)
Revised by: Faculty Board of Science and Technology, 2021-06-03
Contents
This course provides a platform for both theoretical and practical information gathering and reflection about the role of transportation designers and their potential to work and influence towards sustainable mobility. It includes fundamentals of design research theory and an individual research assignment. During the first part of the course students are introduced to methods and techniques used in design research. The main objective of the research assignment is to prepare the students to identify, map, reflect and suggest innovative solutions for complex upcoming mobility issues or transportation design opportunities that could be approached more in depth if chosen as themes for a thesis work in the Master´s programme in Transportation Design.
Expected learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course the students should be able to:
Knowledge and understanding
Account for the purpose and importance of research work in connection to the design of future sustainable mobility systems.
Competence and skills
Show ability to gather and document information about relevant mobility problems or transportation design opportunities as well as existing design development in a specific subject.
Individually create a written and illustrated report supported by an oral presentation exposing personal reflections and conclusions on a relevant mobility problem or transportation design opportunity, all based on credible research content.
Judgement and approach
Generate personal reflection based on facts and hypothetical scenarios encountered during data collection and extend such reflections into possible areas for further personal development in line with the students own design philosophies.
Required Knowledge
A Bachelor's degree or equivalent first-cycle qualification comprising of at least 180 ECTS or a corresponding qualification from an internationally recognized university. Specific entry requirements are: 60 ECTS credits in the field of Design. Student must have passed all previous courses on the Master programme in Transportation Design at Umeå Institute of Design or the equivalent. Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English B/6.
Form of instruction
Teaching methods include lectures, tutorials and literature studies. Education is carried out in English.
Examination modes
Students are evaluated through oral presentations and the research assignment will be examined based on the completion of a list of minimum deliverables, normally an original written and illustrated report in English. In order to obtain credit for the 7.5-points course, all sections and assignments must be successfully completed. Students receive a mark of either Pass or Fail for each assignment and section.
Deviations from the course syllabus examination form can be made for a student who has a decision on pedagogical support due to disability. Individual adaptation of the examination form should be considered based on the student's needs. The examination form is adapted within the framework of the expected syllabus of the course syllabus. At the request of the student, the course responsible teacher, in consultation with the examiner, must promptly decide on the adapted examination form. The decision must then be communicated to the student.
For students who have not obtained the grade Pass, other examination sessions will be arranged. A student who for two consecutive examinations for the same course or sub-course has not been passed, has the right to have another examiner appointed, if there are no special reasons against this (Higher Education Ordinance chapter 6, 22 §). The request for a new examiner shall be made in writing to the Head of Department at Umeå Institute of Design.
ACADEMIC CREDIT TRANSFER Students have the right to request that previous studies, or equivalent knowledge and skills acquired in a professional, work-related capacity, be validated and transferred into credits on an equivalent course or programme at Umeå University. Applications for credit transfer should be addressed to Student Services/Degree Evaluation Office. More information can be found at the Umeå University student web site (www.student.umu.se/english) and in Chapter 6 of the Higher Education Ordinance. Appeals may be made to the Higher Education Appeals Board (ÖNH) against a decision by the university not to approve an application for credit transfer (Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 12), even in cases where only a part of the application has been rejected.
