Course content

The course provides participants with the knowledge and skills needed to work systematically with development and change projects within their own professional practice. Drawing on perspectives from social innovation, entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship, user involvement, ethics, and service design, participants work to identify, analyze, and further develop a self-selected, concrete practice-related challenge.

The course places particular emphasis on student-active learning in groups, as well as self-assessment of the project's strengths and weaknesses, ethical reflection, a focus on genuine stakeholder participation, and the participant’s own role as a change agent.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will have:

• advanced knowledge of social innovation, entrepreneurship, and intrapreneurship in practice-oriented development and change initiatives
• knowledge of user participation, co-creation, and participatory methods in the development of municipal and community-oriented services
• knowledge of ethical issues related to power, vulnerability, representation, and unintended consequences in development projects
• knowledge of service design and implementation as approaches to the development and evaluation of new initiatives
• knowledge of how personal strengths, weaknesses, and organizational contexts may influence change processes

Skills

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will be able to:

• identify and analyze a development or change challenge within their own professional practice
• apply relevant theories and methods in the planning and execution of their own development or change project
• plan user participation and participatory processes within their own project
• conduct a self-assessment of the project's strengths, weaknesses, ethical challenges, and quality of stakeholder involvement
• assess barriers, resources, and potential consequences related to the implementation of their project
• present and justify their project orally and in writing, drawing on theory, methodology, and practical experience

General Competence

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will be able to:

• critically reflect on their own role as a professional, leader, or social change agent in relation to the course content
• evaluate ethical dilemmas and power dynamics in development and participatory processes
• use self-assessment and peer feedback as a basis for the further development of their project
• contribute to innovation and service development within their own practice or organization
• integrate research-based, experience-based, and user-based knowledge when addressing complex practice-related challenges

Learning methods and activities

Forelesninger, seminar, gruppearbeid, individuelt hjemmearbeid og fremlegg i plenum

Compulsory assignments

• 70% attendance is mandatory for the course
• One oral presentation of the project

Required previous knowledge

A Bachelor’s degree in health, social sciences, or social studies. Relevant practical experience may be approved in special cases.

Course materials

Entrepreneurship and Intrapreneurship

• Lynch, M. P., & Corbett, A. C. (2023). Entrepreneurial mindset shift and the role of cycles of learning. Journal of Small Business Management, 61(1), 80-101. https://doi.org/10.1080/00472778.2021.1924381
• Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS). (2016). Social Entrepreneurs - Partnerships for New Solutions. Uni Research Rokkansenteret, ISF, NIBR, & EMES. Available at: https://www.ks.no

Service Design, Innovation, and Social Change in a Norwegian Context, Including User Participation and Co-Creation

• Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS). Roadmap for Service Innovation. Available at: https://www.ks.no/fagomrader/innovasjon/innovasjonsverktoy/veikart-for-tjenesteinnovasjon/
• Universities Norway (UHR). (2025). Putting Research into Practice! Social Innovation for the Better: Report from the UHR Innovation Working Group (25 August 2025). Available at: https://uhr.no
• Andersen, L. L., Espersen, H. H., Kobro, L. U., Kristensen, K., Skar, C., & Iversen, H. (2018). Democratic Innovation: Theories and Models for Co-Creative Social Innovation in Norwegian Municipalities. Report Series No. 24/2018. University College of Southeast Norway, Centre for Social Entrepreneurship and Collaborative Social Innovation. Available at: https://usn.no/sesam
• National Centre for Experience-Based Competence in Mental Health. National Professional Guidelines for User and Family Involvement. Available at: https://erfaringskompetanse.no/nasjonale-faglige-rad-for-bruker-og-parorendemedvirkning/

Research Collaboration, Ethics, and Vulnerable Groups

• University Municipality 3.0 and NTNU. Guide to Collaboration Between Municipalities and Research Environments. Available at: https://kommunale-forskningssamarbeid.no/
• National Committee for Research Ethics in the Social Sciences and the Humanities (NESH). (2014). Vulnerable Groups. Available at: https://www.forskningsetikk.no/ressurser/fbib/bestemte-grupper/sarbare-grupper
• National Committee for Research Ethics in the Social Sciences and the Humanities (NESH). (2021). Research Ethics Guidelines for the Social Sciences and the Humanities. Available at: https://www.forskningsetikk.no/retningslinjer/hum-sam/forskningsetiske-retningslinjer-for-samfunnsvitenskap-og-humaniora/

Additional Reading

Students are required to select additional literature relevant to their chosen project and written assignment. This self-selected literature is supplementary to the required course readings.

Syllabus

Link to reading list in Leganto