ØKA202 Digitalisation and Sustainable Development (Spring 2025)

The course is connected to the following study programs

Elective course for students enrolled in the Bachelor Programme in Business Administration all specialization.

Absolute requirements

All courses in the first year of the study programme must be passed to start this course.

Recommended requirements

Following courses are relevant:

• Bærekraft og foretagsstragi (sustainability and business strategy)

• Etikk, samfunnsansvar, bærekraft is relevant (Ethics, social responsibility, sustainability).

Lecture Semester

6th semester (spring)

The student's learning outcomes after completing the course

Knowledge
The student

• is familiar with the key concepts, issues and practices of sustainable development.

 

• can reflect on how technological innovations, as for example Internet of Things, robots, artificial intelligence and big data, can enable or hinder sustainable transition.

Skills
The student

• knows how to apply frameworks and guidelines in the field of sustainability accounting.

 

• can recognise opportunities and challenges of digital technology use in relation to the pursuit of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 

• is able to analyse real-life cases using concepts, models and tools relevant for smart sustainable development.

General competence
The student

• has understand of how to read a sustainability report and analyse it.

 

• is able to critically discuss the major problems of sustainability and the prospects for technical solutions to achieve green shift.

 

• is able to apply problem-solving and team-work capacities to study issues of relevance for smart sustainable development.

Content

Through the Paris Agreement, the EEA and the UN's Agenda 2030, Norway has committed itself to cutting emissions and working towards a green and sustainable development. UN’s vision of sustainable development involves economic growth, social progress and promotion of environmental sustainability. A green shift requires deployment of technological solutions and restructuring of businesses, sectors and society that also opens up new opportunities in the years to come.

The course introduces the concept of sustainability and various digital technologies that can contribute to solving the challenge we face. The focus will be on topics and tools relevant for the pursuit of low-carbon and less unsustainable societies:

• UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• Measuring and monitory sustainability

• Digitalisation

• Smart green future

Forms of teaching and learning

Lecture: Lectures will introduce and review key concepts, issues and practices related to digital transformation and sustainable development.

Seminar/case assignment: Students will work on one assignment (groupwork) to enhance their problem-solving and collaborative capacities.

Workload

The course will give the student approximately 280 hours of work.

Coursework requirements - conditions for taking the exam

One written group assignment must be approved by pass before students can obtain permission to take the final exam. Individual submission is only allowed after application.

Examination

Individual written examination on campus
A four-hour individual, written exam (Norwegian - English).
Aids allowed: 

• Calculator with empty memory, incapable of symbolic computation or wireless communication

• Mother tongue - English - mother tongue dictionary

An overall individual final grade is awarded for the course using grading scale A to F.

Examiners

One internal and one external examiner, or to internal examiners.

Course evaluation

To improve the course, we need the evaluations from the students. The course is evaluated each semester. The evaluations from the students are treated by the departement staff.