PINS9530 Well-being and Sustainability Course description

In this course the students will learn to see a broader perspective of the use of art, including its contemporary discourses. The course offers the possibility to delve deeper into one of three chosen areas of study through analyzing theory related to students’ own field of specialization. The course addresses a range of different societal areas. The three specific themes are interdisciplinary and will vary each year based on currents within society and the Arts and are chosen in advance by the course leaders.

The objective of the course is to broaden the students perspective on society, and how their own aesthical skills and knowledge can contribute to societal changes.

Knowledge

The Students

• have thorough knowledge of the current discourses and central theory of their chosen theme
• have thorough knowledge of interdisciplinary themes and dialogues across the various aesthetic fields and in societal contexts relating to their chosen theme

Skills:

Students can:

• be able to analyze, explore and discuss aesthetic practices on the basis of relevant theory and societal issues
• use theory engaging in interdisciplinary dialogue, independently and/or together with others to develop new ideas and perspectives.
• discuss how the aesthetic field can contribute to changes and developments in society
• write an academic text on master level that apply the chosen theme to practices in the field of their specialization.

General competence:

Students can:

• articulate relevant societal challenges and explore how aesthetic practice and theory address these challenges in different ways.
• work together with students from different course specializations to develop new perspectives on societal challenges.

Upon completing the course, the candidates are expected to have gained the following learning outcomes (knowledge, skills, and general competence).

Knowledge

The candidate:

• can contribute to the development of new knowledge, new theories, methods, interpretations and forms of documentation in how social frameworks and traditions influence individual practices
• can evaluate the expediency and application of different methods and processes that involve human interactions and interaction between people, artefacts, and technologies
• has in-depth knowledge of the challenges that individuals face in everyday technology

Skills

The candidate:

• can formulate problems, plan and carry out research with innovative technology and engage individuals in the process
• is able to use multiple perceptions in explorative and systematic processes
• has developed aesthetic awareness, in order to discover and utilize existing surroundings for physical and mental activation
• can evaluate environmental contributors to sense of coherence such as comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness
• can manage complex interdisciplinary digital and physical tools and processes, separately and in combination
• can solicit requirements of people to enhance their well-being by ways of transdisciplinarity and co-design

General Competence

The candidate:

• can identify new relevant ethical issues
• can solicit and evaluate innovative technological solutions
• is able to analyse how institutions, traditions and individual approaches can enable change and sustainability
• can communicate research about Sustainability and Well-being through recognized Norwegian and international channels

The following work requirements are mandatory and must be approved to apply for the exam:

• at least 80 % attendance at classes and seminars.

A written individual or pair assignment of 3000-4000 words.

If two students work together the assignement is 4000-5000 words.

If two students work together the assigment should also include a short formal statement of the cooperation (approx 150-300 words).

Exam can be written in English or Norwegian.

All.

Graded scale A-F

One internal examiner and a co-examiner evaluates a selection of the exam papers. External sensor is used periodically.

10 ECTS with MEST4111