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Course syllabus for Development projects in practice

Course syllabus adopted 2026-02-26 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameUtvecklingsprojekt i praktiken
  • CodeCIU260
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerMPLOL
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studyTechnology and Learning
  • DepartmentCOMMUNICATION AND LEARNING IN SCIENCE
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language

    Swedish

  • Application code

    40113

  • Maximum participants

    35

  • Open for exchange students

    No

  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

Module
Sp1
Sp2
Sp3
Sp4
Summer
Not Sp
Examination dates
0112 Project 7.5 c
Grading: TH		 7.5 c

In programmes

Examiner

Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements

Course specific prerequisites

The course Leading self, individuals and groups (CLS076).

Aim

The aim of the course is for the student to develop knowledge in project management and social science methods as well as the ability to lead, participate in and carry out projects with focus on the development of learning and/or leadership, and to plan and carry out a social science study.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

  • apply basic project management concepts and tools and analyse and evaluate how they are used
  • define project goals in communication with the project sponsor given available resources and prevailing conditions
  • adapt the project to changing circumstances in relation to the project goals
  • create conditions for a successful project handover and communicate the end result to the project sponsor and other stakeholders
  • create conditions for one's own and others' contributions to the project
  • select and apply appropriate social science methods to evaluate an existing or redesigned product or process
  • evaluate the project process, the project result and one's own contribution to these

Content

This course introduces basic project management techniques and tools as well as social science methods for data collection. These tools and methods are directly applied in practice by teams of 4-5 students managing a small development, or evaluation, project with focus on learning and/or leadership in an organisation (such as an company, school or other).

The project assignment may include a complete development cycle or contribute to a part of an (ongoing) development or evaluation process within the client organisation. The project work should, however, include the following steps: 
  • Formulation of project goal(s), deliverables and boundaries in communication with the sponsor and client organisation as well as drafting a realistic plan to reach these goals.
  • Implementation according to plan but with adjustments due to changing circumstances as well as a continuous documentation of the work.
  • Delivery and final communication to the sponsor/client in the form of a project report and presentation.
  • Evaluation of the team project process and result. 
The course has a strong emphasis on process (carrying out a project), which the students need to balance with the product focus of the sponsor and client organisation.

Organisation

The course starts with an introduction to project management and social science methods for data collection, methods, techniques and tools in parallel with the students starting up their projects. Thereafter the course is minimally scheduled with a few class sessions for status reporting and the focus lies on the project work. 

The projects are (generally) carried out in teams of 4-5 students. The students are expected to suggest project tasks in advance of course start. The examiner and teacher team may have tips and ideas of suitable projects or contacts. The project tasks shall be approved by the examiner before the course starts. Each project has a sponsor within the client organisation (implies time investment for supervision, reading reports and attending presentations) and, if needed, a supervisor from the university. A significant part of the project work should be carried out in situ at the client organisation (due to the course status as practicum/placement (VFU) for the degree Master of Science in Secondary Education (ämneslärarexamen)).

In the startup of their projects, the teams should define project goal(s), deliverables and boundaries in consultation with the sponsor and client organisation. They need to produce a project plan with clear cut stages, gates if needed, activities with individual responsibilities, and apply a few methods for project control and follow-up. Each team will present their project, internally as status reports of project progress to the course participants, examiner and teacher team and in the end, externally to communicate the result to the sponsor and client organisation. A written report directed to the sponsor and client organisation is to be compiled at the end of the project (with a public part when confidentiality has to be concerned). After the project is concluded, the students will individually assess and reflect upon their contribution to the project and team, and together with their team evaluate and reflect upon the project process and summarize key learnings and take-aways for future projects.

Literature


  • Esaiasson, P., Gilljam, M., Oscarsson, H., Sundell, A., Towns, A. E., & Wängnerud, L. (2024). Metodpraktikan: Konsten att studera människor, organisationer och samhällen. Norstedts Juridik.
  • Kompletterande stencilerat material
References used within project management
  • Gustavsson, T. (2019). Agile project management. Sanoma utbildning.
  • Lindstedt, P., & Burenius, J. (2003). The value model: how to master product development and create unrivalled customer value. Nimba.
  • Maylor, H. (2010). Project management. [electronic resource] (4th ed.). Financial Times Prentice Hall.
  • Tonnquist, B. (2021). Project Management (5th ed.). Sanoma utbildning.
  • Wenell Management. (2015). Applied project management.

Examination including compulsory elements

The course is examined through assessment of all assignments (individual and group) and an individual grade on the scale Fail, 3, 4 or 5.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers about disability study support.

Development projects in practice | Chalmers