Technological Change is a genuinely social process: people matter!
Technological innovation is a genuinely social process: people matter. New technologies are made, used and maintained by people. Conversely, technologies are shaping people, the economy, politics, world views, as well as moral and cultural norms in society. Technologies and societies coevolve, currently, in the past, and in the future. In the form of lectures and hands-on exercises, participants of this course will learn how to understand, assess and shape such socio-technical dynamics.
The topics that will be covered include:
- understanding the dynamics of socio-technical change,
- reflecting the innovation imperative in a global perspective,
- and finding ways to influence and govern socio-technical developments.
The course Technology & Society is taught by an enthusiast team of governance and innovation scholars, philosophers, and historians from the University of Twente, complemented by international guest lecturers from practice and science. After you have engaged in the intensive study and debate we offer, you will have a clearer view on the options and limitations of the conscious and responsible shaping of technology in society, on the difficulties of disrupting established socio-technical structures and how historical dynamics influence today’s choices. We are more than looking forward to welcoming you online and hopefully on campus in August!
The course Technology & Society is led and coordinated by Dr. Cornelius Schubert and Dr. Peter Stegmaier from the Section of Science, Technology and Policy Studies (STePS) within the Department Cluster Technology, Policy, and Society (TPS).
Course details
The course is divided in three larger sections:
- Understanding Socio-Technical Change: Introduction courses.
- Assessing Socio-Technological Change: Case studies & analytical reflection.
- Shaping Socio-Technological Change: A practioner’s perspective.
Learning outcomes
- Introduction to the fields of governance and innovation studies from sociological, philosophical and historical perspectives. Our aim is to teach you how to analyse and interpret socio-technical change as a complex and emergent process in current societies.
- Get acquainted and discuss core analytical concepts (e.g. co-evolution, socio-technical systems). In our lectures, we work with exercises on concrete examples from the fields of information technology, data science, health, automation (robots), communication, and nanotechnology.
- Learn how to contribute to shaping socio-technical processes and designing them responsibly: In the form of concrete technology assessment exercises (CTA), students will learn how to shape the course of new technologies in an early phase of their development.
- Get in touch with renowned governance, ethics, and innovation scholars from the University of Twente and from their international network.
Festival schedule
Stay tuned! The updated course schedule will follow soon. In the meantime, check out the below schedule of our previous edition to get a preview.
Target group
The course is designed for everyone who is interested in learning more about the complexities and challenges of socio-technical change. No prior knowledge in the field is necessary. The course is rounded off with a 2-page reflective report and an interactive wrap-up session. More details about the final assignment will be announced during the first meeting. The course allows students to learn from and debate with a careful selection of renowned governance and innovation scholars. Taken together the course gives a deep insight in a vibrant field of study and practice.
Course leaders
Course details
- Date: 2- 15 August, 2021
- Format: Blended, first week online (2 - 8 August) and second week on-campus (9 - 15 August)
- Target group: advanced bachelor students, potential master students (ideally with science or engineering background) and interested PhD students.
- Credits: 2 ECTS for successfully completing the summer school
Want to know more?
If you need to know more, we have information available about the fee & programme, an admission check, registration & payment, visa, accomodation and the terms & conditions.