Three-stage rocket in ethics

Mapped principles 

The project is mapped to the following framework principles:

P2. Ability to handle wicked problems for a sustainable societal development

P3. Active student-centred learning 

Definitions of the principles

Contact

Barbro Fröding researcher

babbi@kth.se

Profile

Project number 

This project is implemented at the School of Architecture and the Built Environment (ABE) within the Future Education programme (project no. 2607-ABE) 

Project context 

Rapid technological development and complex societal challenges place increasing demands on our engineers. In order to be able to identify and understand problems and develop solutions/improvements, the engineer must, in addition to extensive technical knowledge, have a number of abilities that have traditionally been associated more with the humanities and social sciences, but which are now absolutely central to being able to handle intractable (wicked) problems.  

In order to fulfil KTH's sustainability goals for education and achieve the CDIO levels (sustainability) requirements (already at levels 2 and 3) and meet the educational goals described in Future Education, students must develop a number of abilities and competencies. With the help of these abilities and competencies, students should be able to drive change towards sustainability after graduation.  

Examples of such abilities and approaches are: an ethical and empathetic approach; analytical thinking and synthesis; holistic systems thinking and acting; normative critical thinking and acting; problematisation and problem solving, the ability to identify values and valuations and manage value conflicts. 

These abilities and approaches are programme and school independent. Instead of all schools/programmes having to allocate time, a KTH-wide concept would be needed. This would save time for programme directors (PA) and course coordinators (KA) so that their participation is limited to the work of integrating program/course-relevant application examples, which would ensure relevance. Such a pilot test would be desirable. 

Purpose (outcome) 

The purpose of the project is to meet the increasing demands of complex societal challenges, rapid technological development, KTH's sustainability goals and CDIO's sustainability requirements through the "Three-Step Rocket", a modular educational package with ethics elements in Years 1, 2, and 3 to create progression in students' learning. Overall, the approach aims to stimulate curiosity, provide practical tools and train skills on programme-relevant technology examples. 

Project results (output) 

The project will deliver the following concrete results: 

• List of programmes included in the project  
• Completed modules (lectures, seminars, etc.) with tailored examples suitable for the programmes included in the project 
• Implemented teaching in the programmes included in the project 
• Analysis of results and lessons learned 
• Final report. 

Time plan 

Start date: 2026-08-19
End date: 2027-12-19 

Project documentation 

If you have a KTH ID, you can read the documents when logged in:

• Poster: The project’s first poster (in Swedish) will be available at the ”Storträffen” meetup autumn 2026   

• Project directive (Swedish): Projektdirektiv_FrU26_2607-ABE_Trestegsraketen-etik.pdf