Express knowledge and understanding
Students gain extended knowledge about the application of the System Dynamics method to the identification and solution of dynamic problems in socio-economic domains by way of modelling, simulation and analysis. They gain knowledge about the intimate relationship that exists between structure and behaviour (dynamics) in such. They gain knowledge about the significance of a robust strategy development, the associated policy design and the resulting decision making (i.e. management) in national contexts, - in particular in multi-sector and -disciplinary domains. The students will know of the basic concepts of model based national development planning.
Apply knowledge and understanding
Students will apply their knowledge in a series of comprehensive case studies that will be presented in class, all based on a template model that forms the point of departure for the investigation of various sectors in a national context. Students are challenged to investigate the turbulent socio-economic dynamics arising from an underlying, non-linear structure by way of computer based modelling and simulation. Particular emphasis will be placed on their recognition of dynamic patterns of problem behaviour and the corresponding underlying structures, as well as their ability to propose and evaluate policies to address such problems. Students are trained to distil the essence of their insights and present it in the form of compact causal loop diagrams.
Make judgements
Students learn to make judgements about how well a model structure contributes to the explanation of an observed or hypothesised dynamic behaviour.
Communicate
Students are encouraged to participate actively in class. The students will be trained both in writing and in oral presentations to explain the relationship between structure and dynamic behaviour in the systems under investigation.
Develop learning skills
The course is putting the student on the track of becoming a skilled modeller, a problem identifier and a policy designer in the context of national development planning. It equips the student with the basic skills and tools to progress in the investigation of systems in ever more complex domains and familiarise the student with relevant scientific literature in the field.
Lectures, seminars, lab exercises and advisory sessions
Mid April - Mid May (4 weeks)
40 hours (lectures) 40 hours (assignment consultations).
80 hours in total
Department of Geography
studieveileder@geog.uib.no
http://www.uib.no/rg/dynamics