Course revision (for course coordinators)

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Every year between Oct 15 and Nov 15, course descriptions must be reviewed and may be revised for the next study year. For each course, this should be done by the course coordinator for the next study year. Who that should be is the responsibility of the department's leadergroup and should be decided by Oct 15.

A course description shall be a resource for students, teachers and study program leaders at NTNU, but also for potential applicants and others.

Once approved and published on the external web, a course description is legally binding. That is, the actual course content, organization and evaluation must be in-line with the description.

Reviewing and revising a course description

A course description consists of: the course title, the course content, the learning outcomes, the examination arrangement, incl. compulsory activities and grading rule, the recommend background, the pre-requisites and other admission requirements, etc. What is not part of the course description is the course schedule data and the registration of course schedule data is a separate process.

All parts of a course description must be reviewed and it is possible to revise all parts, but changes must be justified and anchored, typically in the course report as a result of the evaluation of the course. The department and study programme(s) are important dialogue partners to ensure that the changes that are proposed comply with associated courses and programmes. Major changes in the course content might make it necessary to create a new course and are normally the result of a more comprehensive process at the department or study programme level, for instance as the result of a periodic evaluation of a programme.

Special note from the IE Faculty on artificial intelligence (Oct. 26)

We stand at a crossroads where AI is no longer a phenomenon of the future, but an integral part of today's knowledge society. The course revision gives us an important opportunity to think anew and holistically about how we can best equip our students for a reality in which AI plays an increasingly significant role.

As part of the course revision, all course coordinators must carry out a thorough assessment of how artificial intelligence (AI) can and should be integrated into their courses. AI technology is developing rapidly and already has a considerable impact on learning processes, academic content, and forms of assessment. It is therefore crucial that everyone takes an active stance on how AI can be used pedagogically and academically in a responsible and forward-looking manner.

When revising courses, the following aspects should be assessed:

  • Academic relevance and integration of AI Consider whether and how AI can be incorporated as part of the course content, whether as a topic, tool, or method. This applies both to courses where AI is directly relevant, and to courses where AI can contribute to strengthening students' digital competence and critical reflection.

  • Mandatory coursework and forms of assessment How can we design coursework requirements that promote learning while taking into account the use of AI tools? Forms of assessment must be evaluated in light of how AI may challenge traditional assessment principles, and how we can ensure academic integrity and fair grading.

  • Ethical and pedagogical implications Discuss how AI affects students' independence, use of sources, and academic integrity. How can we contribute to students developing a conscious and responsible use of AI in their academic work?

Once a course description has been reviewed and all the changes, if any, have been registered, the course must sent to quality check (S2).

What happens after Nov 15?

  • Quality check (S2)
    • Who: the department's administration
    • Deadline: Dec 1
  • Approval (S3)
    • Who: the faculty's administration
    • Deadline: Jan 15
  • Clearance to export to FS (S4)
    • Who: the central administration
    • When: mid-Jan – mid May
  • Export to FS (S5)
    • Who: the central administration
    • When: mid-Jan – mid May
  • Publication on the external web
    • Who: the central administration
    • When: mid-May

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