PENG9100 Engineering Science and Ethics Emneplan

This master's degree programme gives students an understanding of global entrepreneurship and innovation-driven ecosystems and markets. The programme seeks an international orientation along several dimensions. The programme uses international lecturers and guest speakers, and all compulsory reading consist of international articles and books.

Students can choose to write their master´s thesis abroad in conjunction with one of the exchange programmes offered to all master students at OsloMet, or be connected to one of OsloMet’s partnering universities around the world.

Students can also join current ongoing research projects (for example within the European Project Semester (EPS) or other within internationally financed research projects or in collboration with Centre for Welfare and Labour Research).

Students can also apply to the Norwegian School of Entrepreneurship (Gründerskolen) summer school managed by the University of Oslo. Students can travel to Boston, Toronto or San Francisco.

Admission requirements.

The students' rights and obligations are set out in Regulations relating to studies and examinations at OsloMet. The regulations describe conditions for resitting/rescheduling exams, the right to appeal, and definitions of cheating in exams, etc. Students are responsible for registering for any resits or rescheduled exams. Students are responsible for familiarising themselves with these rules and regulations.

The forms of assessment vary and are outlined in the course descriptions. They apply to term papers, portfolios, process papers, essays and presentation. The master's thesis is an independent piece of work related to a topic of the student’s choice.

Exam papers are assessed by one internal and one external examiner. The master's thesis is assessed by one internal and one external examiner. The assessment is outlined in the respective course descriptions. A grading scale from A to F will normally be used in assessments. Pass grades range from A to E, while F is a fail. Students have the right to appeal against a grade, whereupon examinations are re-evaluated by two new examiners (one internal and one external). Students are advised that an appeal may result in a grade lower than the grade originally awarded.

Knowledge:

On successful completion of the course, the student:

• can account for the terminology and models related to ethics in engineering science
• has thorough knowledge of the requirements and standards for registration, processing, and storage of information about of participants in scientific research
• has a deep understanding of the role of scientific, societal and ethical values on their research.

Skills:

On successful completion of the course, the student can:

• present arguments and viewpoints relevant to ethical dilemmas prevalent in engineering science
• analyse and assess arguments relevant to ethics in engineering science in relation to their relevance and validity
• argue for solutions to ethical problems using theories and techniques relevant to engineering science
• deal with complex professional issues with an academic approach and reflect critically on established knowledge and practice in his/her own field in relation to sustainability, ethics and to other engineering disciplines
• reflect deeply on the nature of their research and its contribution to the production of knowledge

General competence:

On successful completion of the course, the student can:

• identify, discuss and reflect upon ethical and societal implications of his/her own research as well as of the applications they enable,
• reflect over values and ethical boundaries within engineering science

Module 1 will take the form of lectures. Module 2 will take the form of seminars.

Practical training

The student will write a 4-5 page reflection document on ethical and sustainability issues related to their doctoral thesis or the research project to which he/she is assigned. This document should be self-contained, and should form a basis for inclusion as a section on ethical reflection in the student's final doctoral thesis. The students will also present a case study to the other students at the course.

The following required coursework must be approved before the student can take the exam:

The student must write four reflection notes each of maximum 1500 words on topics that will be announced during the course. Each student must also present two papers in class, one on a paper related to the eithics in their own project and one paper from the general reading list.

Attendance is compulsory with a minimum requirement of 80%.

All work requirements need to be approved in order to pass the course.

Both the presentation of the case in Module 2 of the course and the reflection document in the practical training part of the course will form the basis for assessment.

Both exams must be passed in order to pass the course.

All support material is allowed. The reflection document as well as the presentation of a case in Module 2 will be subject of assessment. There will be no written or oral exam.

Pass or fail.

The presentation will be assessed by the course leader, whereas the reflection document will be assessed by the course leader together with an additional examiner. External examiner is used periodically.