Universität Wien

230155 KO Discussion Class Politics of Innovation and its Institutional Dimensions (2018S)

1.00 ECTS (1.00 SWS), SPL 23 - Soziologie
Continuous assessment of course work

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 25 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

Exkursion:
Freitag 18.05.2018 von 11:30 Uhr bis 14:30 Uhr (Impact Hub Vienna"

  • Friday 02.03. 09:30 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Friday 09.03. 12:00 - 13:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Friday 20.04. 12:00 - 13:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Friday 25.05. 12:00 - 13:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Friday 08.06. 12:00 - 13:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Friday 22.06. 12:00 - 13:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Talk of ‘innovation’ has proliferated in the past decades: it is core to political programmes and economic growth strategies (such as Europe 2020) as well as marketing strategies of firms and tactics of social movements. While today we have gotten used to thinking of innovation as core to societal development, this is by far self-evident in historical perspective. Back in the 17th century, innovation had the meaning of political change, reform and revolution and was used in rather pejorative ways: thus, the then only developing scientific profession was eager to write in line with Restauration values and ‘novelty’ in general was suspect (Godin 2014). This understanding is quite contrary to today’s understanding of innovation as central to wealth, wellbeing and (sometimes even) survival. This lecture discusses the institutional framework conditions (e.g. for funding, measuring or owning innovation) that societies have created to stabilise this view. Amongst others, we discuss different attempts to steer innovation to serve societal needs better (e.g. the European framework programme Horizon 2020). Taking into account the broader societal context, we will also discuss how the dominant understanding of innovation as technological innovation for the market developed and stabilised during the 20th century, e.g. by institutionalising science and innovation statistics and ‘innovation studies’. We further discuss, how alternative concepts of innovation gain (political) legitimacy; e.g. ‘frugal innovation’ that claims to ‘contrast(s) sharply with the conventional approach’ (Planning Commission 2013), or ‘social innovation’ that partly reclaims a meaning of social change or revolution.
The aim of the course is to learn to understand notions of innovation as co-produced by specific societal (institutional, political, economic, cultural, etc.) framework conditions. To do so, it explores how different meanings of innovation have developed historically and traces how we have learned to think of societal development in terms of ‘innovation’. The lecture (VO) does so via talks by the lecturer, but also by interactive discussions, brainstorming, or reflections on contemporary representations (e.g. videos) of innovation policies. The discussion class (KO) takes up and reflects the topics of the lecture. It does so along readings of scientific texts, field-trips (regarding concrete practical examples), and teamwork-based debate.

Assessment and permitted materials

The discussion class engages with the issues of the lecture class through debating the texts or policy documents that are indicated for this date and two field trips (see seminar schedule below).
To pass the discussion class, students are expected to:
prepare each session by reading the respective text(s), preparing two questions for the discussion and posting them on Moodle before the lecture.
participate actively in group works and discussions.
written assignment: short analysis of a policy document (or comparable document); students choose and suggest a document of their interest to the course lecturer for pre-approval, thematic and methodological specifications will be provided (1000 words, to be uploaded on Moodle until 17th May 2017).
chair a discussion: for each class, a group of students will be assigned to organise a discussion on the respective topic, based on the reading of the texts, field trips and group work.
adhere to the general standards of good academic practice.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Grading Scheme
The grading of the course is based on the separate assessment of different tasks on a scale of 1-5. The relative weight of each task in relation to the overall grade is:
Preparation and active participation in the discussion of all sessions:
35 %, assessed individually Feedback on request
Conduct of a discussion: 25 %, assessed as group work, Feedback on request
Delivery of assignments on time, meeting the formal criteria (see requirements below): 5 %, assessed individually, Feedback on request
Written assignment: structure, line of reasoning, originality, language:
35 %, assessed individually, Feedback on request

To successfully complete the course, a weighted average of at least 4,5 is required. Failure to meet the attendance regulations, to deliver course assignments on time or to adhere to standards of academic work may result in a deduction of points.

Acceptance of written assignment implies compliance with the following requirements:
Citations are always marked and referred to in the bibliography at the end of a text
No unauthorized copying or pirating of existing texts; plagiarism will not be tolerated!
Cover sheet must include course title and number, name, student ID, title of assignment/topic and date
Style: A4 paper, 11 point font, 1 1/2 line spacing, page numbers in footer, author name and text title in header
Proofreading and language checks before submission of texts

Attendance
Presence and participation is compulsory. An absence of two hours (= 1 discussion class session) at maximum is tolerated, provided that the teaching assistants are informed about the absence. Absences of up to four hours in total may be compensated by either a deduction of points or/and extra-work agreed with the lecturer. Whether compensation is possible is decided by the lecturer.
Absences of more than four hours in total cannot be compensated. In this case, or if the lecturer does not allow a student to compensate absences of more than two hours, the course can not be completed and is graded as a ‘fail’ (5), unless there is a major and unpredictable reason for not being able to fulfil the attendance requirements on the student’s side (e.g. a longer illness). In such a case, the student may be de-registered from the course without grading. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate this in a timely manner, and to provide relevant evidence to their claims if necessary. Whether this exception applies is decided by the lecturer.

Important Grading Information
If not explicitly noted otherwise, all requirements mentioned in the grading scheme and the attendance regulations must be met. If a required task is not fulfilled, e.g. a required assignment is not handed in or if the student does not meet the attendance requirements, this will be considered as a discontinuation of the course. In that case, the course will be graded as ‘fail’ (5), unless there is a major and unpredictable reason for not being able to fulfill the task on the student's side (e.g. a longer illness). In such a case, the student may be de-registered from the course without grading. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate this in a timely manner, and to provide relevant evidence to their claims if necessary. Whether this exception applies is decided by the lecturer.
If any requirement of the course has been fulfilled by fraudulent means, be it for example by cheating at an exam, plagiarizing parts of a written assignment or by faking signatures on an attendance sheet, the student's participation in the course will be discontinued, the entire course will be graded as ‘not assessed’ and will be entered into the electronic exam record as ‘fraudulently obtained’. Self-plagiarism, particularly re-using own work handed in for other courses, will be treated likewise.

Examination topics

Reading list


Association in the course directory

MA HPS: M 1.1, M 1.2, M 1.3

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:39