Syllabus

Credits: 5

Schedule: 26.02.2019 - 02.04.2019

Teacher in charge (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

Ramia Mazé, Antti Pirinen

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation): 

Main teacher: Antti Pirinen (antti.pirinen@aalto.fi, +358 40 5300828)
Second teacher: María Ferreira Litowtschenko (maria.ferreiralitowtschenko@aalto.fi)

Teaching Period (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

Period IV (spring 2019 and 2020)

Recommended for USP students in year 1

Learning Outcomes (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

Students who successfully complete this course should be able to:
• Develop an understanding of urban governance and services as objects of design.
• Utilize core terminologies for planners, designers and researchers working in municipal governance and service development contexts.
• Demonstrate familiarity with theories, methods, skills and examples of design in the public sector.

Content (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

The course provides an overview of the current and emerging uses and roles of design in the public sector. It introduces core terminologies, theories, methods and examples of design, planning and other creative professional roles in the context of urban governance and public services. The aim is to familiarise students with recent knowledge in the design field and to develop their skills in applying design approaches in their studies and profession.

The main themes are:
• Introduction to present and future approaches, issues and trends, in public governance and service provisioning, with focus on design and planning implications.
• Introduction to design theories, methods and approaches relevant in the public sector, including design for policy and governance, design for services, design for civil society and activism, design for behaviour change, and information and communication design.
• Examples of design activities, cases and experts from the field.
• Critical analysis of the value, potential and challenges of design in the public sector.

Activities and teaching methods in support of learning: Teaching comprises lectures by experts in design studies and governance and case presentations from the government and cities. Students work in reading circles to gain broad knowledge and deepen understanding of their own topics of interest, bringing forth key issues to the common sessions. As a final outcome, students write an essay where they explore a particular topic further and connect it to their own practice. The essays are presented in a final seminar.

Details on the course content (applies in this implementation): 

The detailed schedule will be updated to MyCourses before the beginning of the course.

Assessment Methods and Criteria (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

Assessment is based on participation in contact teaching sessions (including 85% attendance unless otherwise agreed in advance with teacher in charge), completion of individual and group assignments, peer-evaluation and submission of the essay including final presentation.

Workload (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

The course is 5 ECTS, which is 135 hours, including:
- Contact teaching (lectures, presentations, discussions) 45 h.
- Independent and group work (reading, assignments, essay, personal reflection time) 90 h.
Contact teaching Tuesdays between 9:15-15:30.

Study Material (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

List of literature is provided in the beginning of the course.

Prerequisites (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

The course is only for master level students.

Grading Scale (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

0-5

Registration for Courses (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

All interested students can register through WebOodi (either at Aalto or at University of Helsinki) regardless of their programme.

The order of priority for admitting students: USP major students; USP minor students; Department of Design students and CS students (taken in in the order of registration); Students for whom the course is part of his/her major's or programme's alternative studies and has been scheduled in the student's PSP (HOPS) for the current academic year; Exchange students for whom the course is a part of his/her officially approved learning agreement and scheduled to be taken during the current semester; All other students.

• Maximum number of students: 30
• Minimum number of students: 18

Details on the schedule (applies in this implementation): 

Weekly schedule:

• 9:15–10:15 (11:00) Theory lecture on weekly theme, often shared with the DfG course
• 10:15 (11:00)–12:00 Time allocated for group work & independent reading and writing
  
• 12:00–13:00 Lunch break
• 13:00–14:15 Case lecture on weekly theme
• 14:30–15:30 Sharing session of the reading groups, facilitated by teachers

Description

Registration and further information