Program Overview

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Model-based Policy Design and Analysis

Postgraduate Course

This postgraduate course focuses on improving the behavior of systems by modifying current decision processes or introducing new ones. The course content includes a series of lectures, modeling sessions, and labs, with reading materials provided by the lecturers.

Objectives and Content

The course aims to practice policy design and analysis through modeling and experimenting with generic structures. Students will learn to explain how fundamental structures of dynamic systems produce problematic behaviors, formulate hypotheses for structural improvements, and explain the process of policy parameter analysis.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of the course, students should have the following learning outcomes:

• Knowledge: Explain dynamic systems, institutional factors, and policy implementation; formulate hypotheses for structural improvements; and explain policy parameter analysis.
• Skills: Perform policy sensitivity analysis, establish criteria for evaluating model structures, assess data requirements, and evaluate policy implementation obstacles.
• General Competence: Conduct research and model-based policy analysis independently, participate in discussions, access and interpret scientific literature, and present work effectively.

Course Details

• ECTS Credits: 10
• Level of Study: Master
• Semester of Instruction: Spring
• Teaching Language: English
• Number of Semesters: 1
• Course Code: GEO-SD308

Required Previous Knowledge

• GEO-SD302
• GEO-SD303
• GEO-SD304
• Other adequate background in modeling

Recommended Previous Knowledge

• GEO-SD304
• Other adequate background in modeling

Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap

None

Access to the Course

This course is open to students in the master's programs in System Dynamics. Other students can apply if they have the required background in System Dynamics.

Teaching and Learning Methods

The course consists of live-streamed, recorded, and stored lectures with active participation by students, and classroom modeling and simulation activities.

Compulsory Assignments and Attendance

• Four homework assignments
• Compulsory assignments must be approved before the student can take the exam

Forms of Assessment

• One week take-home exam in the last week of the course (100% of grade)

Grading Scale

An ECTS grade is provided to the student at the end of the course according to the A-F scale.

Assessment Semester

Assessment in teaching semester

Reading List

The reading list will be ready before 1 July for the autumn semester and 1 December for the spring semester.

Course Evaluation

All courses are evaluated according to UiB's system for quality assurance of education.

Programme Committee

The Programme Committee is responsible for the content, structure, and quality of the study programme and courses.

Course Administrator

The Department of Geography at the Faculty of Social Sciences has the administrative responsibility for the course.