Established by: Dean of Umeå School of Business, Economics and Statistics, 2025-05-21
Contents
This course is about how individuals and organisations can contribute to positive societal development. The purpose of the course is for the student to plan and implement an independent project that contributes to a positive social or environmental impact. The course project can be based on their own idea or developed in collaboration with an organisation. In the course, the student applies knowledge and skills they have acquired through their previous studies to problems that relate to societal or environmental sustainability.
The selection of a project idea and the design of the project plan is done in consultation with the teacher responsible for the course. The goal is for the project to be stimulating, educational, and challenging while also resulting in feasible proposals or concrete results.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding After completing this course, the student should be able to:
identify and describe a societal or sustainability challenge
explain theories and models around societal impact and sustainable development that are relevant to the project work
Skills and ability After completing this course, the student should be able to:
independently plan and implement a project that can create a concrete social impact
apply acquired theoretical knowledge and independently search, evaluate and apply information relevant to the project
both orally and in writing present the project, its results, and their experiences with the project in English
Judgement and approach After completing this course, the student should be able to:
analyse and evaluate societal and/or environmental impacts of project results based on the challenges and conditions of the project work
critically reflect on the project in relation to the role of organisations and individuals in influencing, and opportunities to influence and contribute to positive societal or environmental impacts
reflect on one's own role and learning in the project and one's need to develop skills in relation to the identified societal or sustainability challenge
Required Knowledge
60 credits completed courses whereof 45 credits in Business Administration. Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English B/6.
Form of instruction
Learning is supported by introducing the student to how individuals and/or organisations can address social and environmental sustainability challenges.
The student's project idea and implementation plan are designed in consultation with the course teacher. The project can be carried out individually or in collaboration in a group. The teacher provides ongoing support during the implementation of the work.
The implementation and final results of the project are reported orally, and the student's learning process during the project is also reported in written form.
Examination modes
The course is graded Pass or Fail.
The course is examined through a written project plan, completed project, an individual written report, and an oral presentation at a seminar.
A student who does not pass the first examination will be offered an opportunity for re-examination within 2 months. An additional examination opportunity is normally offered every academic year, one week prior to the start of the autumn term. If required by specific circumstances, another form of examination can be used.
A student that has failed an examination on two occasions has a right to have another examiner or grading teacher appointed, unless there are special reasons against it. A written request addressed to the Director of Studies should be made no later than 14 days before the next examination opportunity.
Adaptations Examiners may decide on deviations from the modes of assessment in the course syllabus. Individual adaptation of modes of assessment must give due consideration to the student's needs. The adaptation of modes of assessment must remain within the framework of the intended learning outcomes in the course syllabus. Students who require an adapted examination - and have received a decision on the right to support from the coordinator at the Student Services Office for students with disabilities - must submit a request to the department holding the course no later than 10 days before the examination. The examiner decides on the adaptation of the examination, after which the student will be notified.
Academic integrity and cheating As a student, you are expected to act with academic integrity. This means writing and presenting within the limits of the academic rules and expectations communicated in the university's regulations and what is otherwise specified by the responsible department. Disciplinary action may be taken against students who use unauthorized help aids or in some other way try to mislead in examination. Rules and regulations concerning the production of academic texts and correct referencing is applicable to written assignments. Submitted material is subject to plagiarism control. In addition, Umeå University rules and regulations for education and research apply.
Transfer of credits Student who considers themselves to possess knowledge from previous relevant studies or professional or vocational experience that can be comparable to a course or part of a course, can apply for transfer of credits. Approved transfer of credits means that the student does not need to take the or those parts of the course that the decision covers. Information about transfer of credits can be found on Umeå University's web site.
Other regulations
This document has been translated from Swedish into English. If the English version differs from the original, the Swedish version takes precedence.
Literature
Valid from:
2026 week 2
Course literature
Literature is chosen individually based on the project and its area of specialisation.
