APS 420 H1S APS 1420 H1S Winter Term 2016

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1 APS 420 H1S APS 1420 H1S Winter Term 2016 Technology, Engineering and Global Development (Room: BA-1230) Instructor: Rahim Rezaie, PhD Updated February 15, 2016 Description: This is joint undergraduate/graduate course that explores the role of innovation in technology and engineering in global development and poverty reduction. Course topics are explored through lectures by the instructor and a variety of guest speakers, as well as readings, case studies and in-class discussion. Topics covered will include: o! Overview of history, theories, and competing philosophies of international development o! The role of foreign aid and major actors (e.g. governments, multilateral and non-government agencies, private companies, and individuals) in development o! Review of key factors that influence technological innovation and diffusion, and how these insights relate to the emergence and scale-up of pro-poor innovations o! Close examination of a variety of technological innovation and scale-up efforts in the developing world o! Analysis of emerging poverty reduction models (e.g. social entrepreneurship, microfinance, philanthropy, grand challenges approach, risk/venture capital, etc.) The course explores these topics in light of the role, benefits, barriers and potential negative consequences of technological innovation in various domains (including: health, energy, agriculture, information technology, and others). These concepts are explored in the context of specific case studies of technological interventions in the developing world and by analysis of factors that led to their emergence, success and/or failure. Intended Audience: Targeted at senior engineering undergrads and M.A.Sc, M.Eng. and Ph.D. students in the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering as prime audience, but will also be of interest to graduate students from the Munk School of Global Affairs, the Rotman School of Management, and selected departments in Arts and Science (International Development Studies, Economics, Political Science, Geography). For undergrads this course will serve as a HSS elective. It is also an approved course for the undergrad Business minor ( ates/minors/engineering_business.htm), the undergraduate Global Engineering Certificate ( ates/certificates/global_engineering.htm), the Engineering and Globalization Certificate at the graduate level ( and the ELITE Certificate ( Meeting Schedule: Class meets once a week in a three-hour time slot. Course meeting time is Wednesdays 3:00 to 6:00 pm. The assigned location is BA1230. Instructor and TA: Course instructor is Dr. Rahim Rezaie (rahim.rezaie@utoronto.ca). Course TA will be Samiha Tahseen, PhD Candidate, Civil Engineering (samiha.tahseen@mail.utoronto.ca). Office Hours: Most Tuesdays from 2:00-3:00pm. Exact schedule & location will be posted on Blackboard. Other meetings with the TA and/or the instructor can be arranged through . 1

2 Course Format: Combination of: Lectures by the instructor, guest lecturers, and the TA Discussion of readings book excerpts, academic journal articles, popular press articles, UN publications, etc. Case studies of specific technologies and technological domains Student group assignment & presentation Individual assignment (APS-1420 Students only) Major Topics and Sequence: See course schedule below. Course Materials: A hard copy Course Reader containing some of the course readings is available for purchase at Alicos Printing (203A College St.). Cost is $67 per copy. Other assigned readings will be provided through open access web-links, and/or by posting PDF copies on the course Blackboard. Resource Books: o! Convergence: Philosophies and Pedagogies for Developing the Next Generation of Humanitarian Engineers and Social Entrepreneurs. Edited by Thomas H. Colledge. Publisher: International Journal for Service Learning in Engineering: Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship, (PDF Copy available on Blackboard) o! Innovation: Applying Knowledge in Development. Calestous Juma and Lee Yee-Cheong lead authors; Earthscan, The book can be downloaded free of charge through the UN Millennium Project website at: Grading Scheme: APS420 Undergrad Students 20% - Midterm - during class (February 24 th ) 35% - Group project on a major topic (Groups of 4 students)!! 2-pager preliminary plan (5%): Due February 24 th (or preferably sooner)!! SWOT analysis (10%): Due March 23 rd o! Length: Maximum 2000 words (excluding references) o! SWOT Analysis of the chosen technology & implementation approach o! Format: Introduction, SWOT sections, Conclusions!! PPT slide deck (10%): Due March 30 th!! Class presentation (10%): Sessions 12 & 13 (March 30 th, April 6 th ) o! Presentation Length: 20 min per team including Q/A. 35% - Final exam (Date/time/place determined by the registrar) 10% - Class participation and value add to sessions Grading Scheme: APS1420 Graduate Students 15% - Midterm - during class (February 24 th ) 30% - Group project on a major topic (Groups of 4)!! 2-pager preliminary plan: Due February 24 th (or preferably sooner)!! SWOT analysis (10%): Due March 23 rd o! Length: Maximum 2000 words (excluding references) o! SWOT Analysis of the chosen technology & implementation approach o! Format: Introduction, SWOT sections, Conclusions!! PPT slide deck (10%): Due beginning of Session 12 (March 30 th )!! Class presentation (10%): Sessions 12 & 13 2

3 20% - Final Exam 25% - Individual assignment with choice of two approaches:!! Long Paper (3000 words): detailed analysis and evaluation of: o! A development approach/strategy (e.g. microfinance, foreign aid, the Grand Challenges approach), or o! Global efforts aimed at addressing a key development challenge (micronutrient deficiencies, sanitation, etc.), or o! A major development organization s approaches/activities (e.g. the World Bank, the WHO, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, IDRC, etc.), or o! A largely untapped approach (e.g. Engineering education, free internet, etc.), it s potential impact and some ways one might implement such interventions!! TED Talk + option of: i) Short Paper (1200 words) or ii) a dynamic Glogster/digital Visual Poster (to share with class & perhaps online). TED Talk would be a 15min presentation (+5min Q/A) modeled on the popular TED Talks format (i.e. Short, informed & thoughtful presentation on a given topic, where you take a stand and defend it through a dynamic presentation perhaps questioning conventional wisdom). 10% - Class participation and value add to session 3

4 Course Schedule APS 420 APS Technology, Engineering and Global Development Winter Term 2016 (BA 1230) Session # Date Summary of Materials Covered Readings & Other Informative Resources:!! Required readings***!! Recommended for review prior to lecture!! (R) Denotes Articles is in the Course Reader!! Section I: International Development: History, Metrics, Competing Philosophies & Key Actors/Organizations Session1 Documentary Film, The End of Poverty *** - Jan 6 Guest speakers (To be Confirmed & Subject to Change) Course Overview Session2 Jan 13 International Development: History, Conceptions, Metrics & Institutions History of international development Overview of development metrics Why Some Countries Fail to Thrive? (J. D. Sachs)*** (R) Development Reconsidered; New Direction in Development Thinking (D. Simon, 1997) Unpacking Participation : models, meanings and practices (A. Cornwall) Guest Speaker: Prof. Thembela Kepe, International Development Studies, UTSC Session 3 Jan 20 Global Development Aspirations, Efforts & Results Key Development Institutions Overview of Millennium & Sustainable Development Goals Key Players in International Development (UN, World Bank, IMF, WHO, NGOs, etc.) A Global Compact to End Poverty (J. D. Sachs) (R)*** Millennium Development Goals: 2015 Report Sustainable Development Goals to 2030 The 50 most critical scientific & technological breakthroughs required for sustainable global development Global Nutrition Report 2015: Actions & Accountability Session 4 Jan 27 Competing Development Philosophies Case study: Nutrition - The Lucky Iron Fish project Alternate strategies for Ending Poverty Introduction into Technology & Technological Change Planners Versus Searchers (W. Easterly)*** (R) Chapter 4 of the Convergence book (Pg ), entitled: Using the Social Entrepreneurship Model to Teach Engineering Students How to Create Lasting Social Change. *** Section II: Technological Innovation & Diffusion 4

5 Session 5 February 3 Technological Innovation Innovation Systems Innovation, Economic Growth & Inequality Case Study: Energy & Green Growth Systems of Innovation: Perspectives & Challenges (C. Edquist)*** (R) Engineering and Its Solutions. (W. B. Arthur)*** (R) Energy Poverty (Thomas L. Friedman) (R) Evolution and the Dynamics of Technological Change. (J. Mokyr) in The Lever of Riches, pp Video: Peter A. Singer: How to make sure a poor country stays poor (18min) ( Guest Speaker: Samiha Tahseen, PhD Candidate, CIV Guest Speaker: Nadine Ibrahim, PhD Lecturer, Civil Engineering Department Session 6 Feb 10 Diffusion of Technology Appropriate Technology Group Project: 2-pager preliminary plan Due Feb 17 Session 7 Feb 24 ICTs & Development Mid-Term Exam (in Class) Session 8 March 2 Business, Entrepreneurship and Finance Models Session 9 March 9 Technological Diffusion & Adoption: Models & Determinants Case Study: Appropriate Technology Reading Week Case Study: ICTs for Development The use of mobile health technologies to improve maternal and child health in Africa Emerging business, entrepreneurship & finance models for development Home-grown Innovation in developing countries Development Finance & Risk Capital o! Elements of Diffusion (Rogers)(R)*** o! Design for the Other 90 Percent (Polak)*** (R) o! Innovativeness & Adopter Characteristics (Rogers) (R) o! Chapter 5 of the Convergence book (pg ), entitled: Frugal Innovation. o! World Bank World Development Report 2015: Mind, Society & Behaviour o! Heeks, 2010: Do Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) Contribute to Development?*** o! Tamrat, 2011: Special Delivery: An Analysis of mhealth in Maternal and Newborn Health Programs and Their Outcomes Around the World o! The Aakash Tablet experience: URL: NY Times Article Electrifying India, With the Sun and Small Loans, Published January 2, 2016 *** URL: Homegrown Development (W. Easterly)*** (R) Rezaie et al (2012) Emergence of biopharmaceutical innovators in China, India, Brazil, and South Africa as global competitors and collaborators. Guest Speaker: Beverly Bradley, PhD Candidate, Centre for Global Engineering Guest Speaker: Kristy Hackett, PhD Candidate, The Dalla Lana School of Public Health Guest Speaker: Prof. Murray Metcalfe, Professor of Globalization, UofT o! From Microfinance to Social Business (M. Yunus)*** (R) Guest Speaker 1: Mr. Serge Levert-Chiasson, 5

6 Development Innovation Finance Senior Partner, Managing Director, Operations & CCO, Sarona Investment Management. Session 10 March 16 Global Health & Public Policy Frugal water & energy Systems State policy and Access to Technology Access to Medicines Case Study 2: Energy & water systems for rural communities Poverty, Invisibility & Innovation. (Wong, J.) in Innovating for the Global South. Pages 10-28*** URL: 15&dq=Poverty,+Invisibility+%26+Innovation&source=bl&ots=aUhOxv ELku&sig=8JrLjcmK0PDrtCMN29OoBW83KMc&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0a hukewidi4ol1nhjahwflr4khekxc- IQ6AEIMDAE#v=onepage&q=Poverty%2C%20Invisibility%20%26%20 Innovation&f=false Howitt et al, (2012) Technologies for Global Health. The Lancet, Volume 380, Issue 9840, *** Guest Speaker 2: Dr. Ken Simiyu, Program Officer, Grand Challenges Canada Guest Speaker: Prof. Amy Bilton Evaluating High-tech Health Approaches in Low-income Countries. Mossman k. et al. Session 11 March 23 Globalization & Development Grad Student Presentations Group Project: SWOT Analysis Due Session 12 March 30 Group Presentations Session 13 April 6 Group Presentations Date: TBD Globalization of Science, Technology & Innovation; Implications for Poverty Reduction Student Project Presentations Part 1 Student Project Presentations Part 2 Final Exam o! Another World is Possible (J. E. Stiglitz)*** (R) o! Nancy Birdsall: The Development Space Goes Global 6

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