Course Catalogue

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In Equitable and Just Digital Society: Developing Interdisciplinary Skills and Knowledge course you will develop critical knowledge and practical skills to become interactional experts in research for an equitable and just digital society. The interdisciplinary approach covers the Sociology of Digital Society, Power and Justice in the Digital Age from an International Perspective, Digital Media, Social Participation and Life-Long Learning, Human-Computer Interaction, Design and Information Society and Integrated Research and Ethics. You will be taught by leading experts from world-leading universities: the University of Glasgow (UK), University of Tubingen (Germany), University of Stockholm (Sweden), Autonomous University of Madrid (Spain), and the University of Witerwatersrand (South Africa).

One 2-hour workshop per week delivered online 5 workshops in each semester, so 10 weeks in total across the academic year.  

First Class or 2.1 UG degree

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1. The summative (marked) assessment for this module will take the form of: (1) an essay and (2) a portfolio.

The essay is on a fully worked up scenario of an innovation and development digital project. It includes: a description of the scenario (what the digital innovation is and its purpose and who its user groups are) (2500 words) based on the project idea students have develop and counts for 50% of the module marks.  

The portfolio is based on the theoretical informed practice-based activities that the students undertake in the workshops. It will cover case-based ethics, the design of ethical digital objects and tools, what the learning process was by end-users, developers and the interactional expert was, insights gained from taking an international perspective and a reflection on what is involved in developing digital tools and services for a just and equitable digital society. The portfolio will be 2,500 words and counts for 50% of the module marks.

The aims of course are to enable students to become 'interactional experts' which refers to those who can work in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary ways to address the challenges of ensuring that digital tools and services are developed in equitable and just ways for the communities they aim to support.  This includes developing students with understanding the technical capabilities and limitations of digital technology whilst also having the skills and knowledge to take human behaviour, social interactions, and social and cultural contexts into account.

By the end of this course students will be able: 

1. To independently identify areas for research in digital society related topic areas, their significance and importance to knowledge development and the end-users of digital services. 

2. To think carefully and rigorously about the ethics of research and how to consider ethics in the design and development of a digital services. 

3. Analyze and synthesize cross-sectoral learning strategies to collaboratively design, develop and produce digital tools and services.

4. Demonstrate the ability to evaluate and formulate digital transformations, involving new approaches to learning, collaboration, and participation within diverse social contexts.

Transferable Skills 

Students will develop the following transferable skills: 

■ Identify areas for research, develop research ideas and formulate and develop a research proposal. 

■ Gain understanding about digital/data skills such as setting up a webpage or a blog; retrieving and analysing data from open data sources or digital platforms using APIs or research data-platforms; ethics applications and data-management plans.  

■ Written and oral communication; formulating and communicating ideas and recommendations. 

■ Problem solving, originality and initiative in designing projects. 

■ Independent learning, reflective and reflexive practice, showing initiative, effective time management and self-organisation. 

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.