| 1. |
- Argento, Daniela, et al.
(författare)
-
Integrating sustainability in higher education : a Swedish case
- 2020
-
Ingår i: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. - : Emerald Group Publishing Limited. - 1467-6370 .- 1758-6739. ; 21:6, s. 1131-1150
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose – This paper aims to unveil how sustainability is integrated into the courses/programmes ofhigher education institutions. The research question addressed is: how do academics representing differentdisciplines cooperate and engage in the work of integrating sustainability into their teaching programmes.Design/methodology/approach – This paper draws upon the notions of practise variation andinstitutional work from institutional theory and empirically focusses on the case of Kristianstad University(Sweden). This case is based on an autoethnographic approach and illustrates the experiences shared by sixcolleagues, representing different disciplines, engaged in implementing sustainability in their courses/programmes.Findings – The findings highlight how academics representing different disciplines, with specific traditionsand characteristics, face the sustainability challenge. Despite being bound by similar sustainable developmentgoals, differences across disciplines need to be acknowledged and used as an asset if trans-disciplinarity is theultimate goal.Research limitations/implications – Although the intrinsic motivation of individuals to work withsustainability might be a strong driver, the implementation of sustainability within courses/programmes andacross disciplines requires joint efforts and collective institutional work.Practical implications – By highlighting how academics engage in the work of integratingsustainability, this study emphasizes that managers of higher education institutions need to account for thetime and additional resources needed to ensure that academics effectively cope with sustainability. Intrinsicmotivation may not last if organizational structures and leadership are not supportive on a practical level andin the long run.
|
|
| 2. |
- Einarson, Daniel, 1960-, et al.
(författare)
-
Education for the remote work methods of the future in software engineering
- 2021
-
Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This contribution studies the new forms of work that arise as a consequence of the pandemic, and presents how students in education can be prepared for these forms of work. More and more discussions concern adjustments to remote work. This also applies to the academy, which then has a responsibility, not only to change work towards distance forms, but also train students in these for their future professional career. A survey was conducted during the autumn semester of 2020 when a course in Software Engineering, which normally is dependent on physical meetings, was forced to be given completely online. The outcome was documented by the teachers during the course through continuous discussions and investigations, and was later compiled into a conference contribution, which is currently in a peer-review process [1]. Among the discussions it was mentioned that we may experience a ‘game-changer’, and more precisely that in the future we may work globally and distributed, i.e., independently of a localized office. Globally, it is possible to see discussions regarding such a 'game-changer'. At the World Economic Forum's Davos Agenda 25-29 January, 2021, the possible future labor market was discussed via the article [2]. This as a reflection on the situation that has arisen that the pandemic has contributed to, and future possible consequences of this. Similar discussions on the expansion of remote work, are covered, e.g., in [3] and [4], which in turn demands for new responsibilities at academia, with respect to adjustments in courses to meet challenges of future remote work. The contribution presents changes in teaching so that this corresponds well with a shift in the IT-industry towards remote working. New teaching elements are implemented in larger project courses, where the focus is on online-based development with modern tools for testing and integration. Process models that were previously seen as flexible and efficient, but have been dependent on physical meetings, are adjusted to be able to be performed distributed and remote. Studies of corresponding changes in the regional IT-industry are reported, as well as psycho-social consequences of the new forms of working.
|
|
| 3. |
|
|
| 4. |
- Einarson, Daniel, 1960-, et al.
(författare)
-
Smart home techniques for young people with functional disabilities
- 2020
-
Ingår i: ACHI 2020. - 9781612087610 ; , s. 294-300
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- A purpose behind the United Nation’s Agenda 2030is that no one shall be left behind, which implies that supportfor vulnerable people shall be seen as clearly significant. Inthat context, assistive technologies serve purposes of improvingdisabled individuals’ inclusiveness and overall well-being. Thiscontribution covers ongoing experiments on techniquesdeveloped for Smart Homes, where the outcomes of suchdevelopments are targeted towards young people withfunctional disabilities, in order to provide them withindependence in their own living space.
|
|
| 5. |
- Klonowska, Kamilla, et al.
(författare)
-
The win-win of synchronizing last semester’s Computer Engineering courses
- 2021
-
Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This contribution addresses how two parallel courses during the last semester, where one is a final course for degree projects, have been synchronized. This is to give students a greater chance to complete the courses on time, and at the same time create a greater understanding of complicated problems.The three-year Computer Engineering program at Kristianstad University, Sweden, has for several years suffered from difficulties during the third semester of the third year, where students most often tend to miss significant deadlines. This semester, which is the students' last, comprises a final degree project of 15 credits, which corresponds to half the work effort during the semester. Different approaches have been tested to give students the best possible conditions to complete the degree project on time. On the one hand, the degree project has been full-time during the latter part of the semester, with the first half consisting of other courses. On the other hand, the degree project has run in parallel with other courses throughout the semester. However, both approaches have resulted in situations where the students in many cases do not complete the degree project, and that other courses during the semester have also suffered.A revision of the Computer Engineering program was made three years ago. The difficulties with the last semester have then also been considered. An effort has been made to develop synchronization opportunities between the courses during this semester. A new course, Systems Engineering, of 15 credits throughout the semester, has been developed, where the content of the course, as well as levels of learning objectives and examination forms have been considered to suit the parallel ongoing course for the degree project. Students have been offered opportunities to develop and analyze advanced systems where the course System Engineering has been based on the implementation of technical constructions, while the course for degree projects has been based on more theoretical and exploratory perspectives.The students design the systems with both hardware and software. At the same time as they conduct literature studies, and investigate suitable analysis methods. Examples of systems include:- Drones. Processors for these, as well as software to give these flying properties, are developed. Technical measurements are made, for analysis and evaluations. Measurements made are based, e.g., on the placement of sensors, and performance on technical protocols.- Body Sensor Networks. Here, too, both hardware and software are designed to put the system into operation, and technical measurements are made to study at the usability of the system.Synchronizing the courses has generally given good results, where the opportunity to complete the courses has increased drastically. A survey of the students' experiences has been made, and this has shown high satisfaction.The program is clearly CDIO-oriented, which is also expressed in the education plan. The perception is that the synchronization of courses described in this contribution, and the effects of this, further increase the fundamental values pointed out by the CDIO.
|
|
| 6. |
- Melén, Maria, 1971-, et al.
(författare)
-
Educate the educators in teaching and learning for sustainable development
- 2020
-
Ingår i: ETH Learning and teaching journal. - Zurich. - 2624-7992. ; 2:2, s. 338-341
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper will discuss the future-ready university at the level of its future-ready teachers with regard to their teaching and learning practice for sustainable development. Academic institutions have both a role in promoting discussions of concern based on their specialized disciplines and a role in educating students to be future-ready to contribute to the society in a sustainable way. However, carrying out such roles with sufficient credibility may not be a matter of course for university teachers, who need sufficient insights into both sustainability per se and sustainable pedagogical teaching practice. This paper stresses the importance to the development of the future-ready university of cultivating sustainability, and provides an “educate the educators” project as an example.
|
|
