Planning for a Sustainable Information Society, 7.5 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Course offered for

• Master's Programme in Strategic Urban and Regional Planning

Entry requirements

• Bachelor's degree in urban and regional planning equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen
  or 
  other relevant subject area.
• English corresponding to the level of English in Swedish upper secondary education (Engelska 6).
  Exemption from Swedish

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• describe and explain key concepts around digitalisation's driving forces and challenges within smart cities and regions
• analyse the impact of digitalisation on societal change, urban and regional development and infrastructure systems
• evaluate how digitalisation can affect opportunities to reach the global sustainable development goals
• critically analyse the use of digital methods and tools in strategic urban and regional planning
• apply digital tools in strategic urban and regional planning

Course content

The course discusses how digitalisation and information and communication technology (ICT) impact opportunities for urban and regional development and create new conditions for strategic urban and regional planning. Digital infrastructures, access to and analysis of large amounts of data, digital service platforms and new opportunities for communication and visualisation have the potential to radically change sectors that are relevant for urban and regional planning such as transport, energy, industrial production and public service.New digital infrastructures, big data, and new opportunities for communication and visualisation transform the way specific sectors such as energy and transport, but also whole cities and regions are organised and governed. The course discusses the opportunities for urban and regional planning to play an active role in how these developments are implemented in our cities and regions and thus contribute to a more sustainable information society. The course also discusses how digitalisation impacts the urban and regional planning profession through the development of digital planning tools and access to data sources and new sources of information. Furthermore, digital tools are introduced for areas of strategic urban and regional planning such as citizen dialogues and development of planning documents.

Teaching and working methods

The teaching at the course consists of lectures, seminars and laboratory excercises. Homework and independent study are a necessary complement to the course.

Examination

The course is examined through:

• Active participation in seminars, grading scale: EC
• Individual oral presentations, grading scale: EC
• Individual written assignments, grading scale: EC

For ’E’ as a final grade, it is required that all examinations using the pass-fail grading system achieve a passing score (active participations in seminars and individual oral presentations) and at least ‘E’ on the individual writing assignments.

For ‘D’ as the final grade in the course, the student must also obtain at least ‘D’ on 75 percent of the individual written assignments.

For C’ as the final grade in the course, the student must also obtain at least ‘C’ on 75 percent of the individual written assignments.

For ‘B’ as the final grade in the course, the student must also obtain at least ‘B’ on 75 percent of the individual written assignments.

For ‘A’ as the final grade in the course, the student must also obtain at least ‘A’ on 75 percent of the individual written assignments.

Detailed information can be found in the study guide.

If special circumstances prevail, and if it is possible with consideration of the nature of the compulsory component, the examiner may decide to replace the compulsory component with another equivalent component.

If the LiU coordinator for students with disabilities has granted a student the right to an adapted examination for a written examination in an examination hall, the student has the right to it.

If the coordinator has recommended for the student an adapted examination or alternative form of examination, the examiner may grant this if the examiner assesses that it is possible, based on consideration of the course objectives.

An examiner may also decide that an adapted examination or alternative form of examination if the examiner assessed that special circumstances prevail, and the examiner assesses that it is possible while maintaining the objectives of the course.

Students failing an exam covering either the entire course or part of the course twice are entitled to have a new examiner appointed for the reexamination.

Students who have passed an examination may not retake it in order to improve their grades.

Grades

Other information

Planning and implementation of a course must take its starting point in the wording of the syllabus. The course evaluation included in each course must therefore take up the question how well the course agrees with the syllabus. 

The course is conducted in such a way that there are equal opportunities with regard to sex, transgender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion or other belief, disability, sexual orientation and age.

If special circumstances prevail, the vice-chancellor may in a special decision specify the preconditions for temporary deviations from this course syllabus, and delegate the right to take such decisions.

Department