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CURRICULUM FOR AUSTRAL-ASIAN CULTURAL STUDIES
Type of course
The course of studies is designed as a course unit that can be included as a component in a Bachelor’s degree cycle . The course is organised in collaboration with Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia and most of the teaching will be the responsibility of members of staff at Griffith.
Scope and duration
The course carries 30 ECTS credits and is offered during the autumn semester.
Admission requirements
The course unit forms part of various Bachelor’s degree cycles at Volda University College (VUC). Students are required to have at least 60 ECTS credits from VUC in order to be qualified to apply for acceptance on the course. Prospective applicants must write an application in English explaining their motivation for wanting to take the course, in addition to attending an interview with the admissions panel. The interview will be in English. The admissions panel draws up a shortlist of proposed candidates for admission. The final selection will be made by the Faculty of Humanities (AHF), if necessary in consultation with the departments involved.
Learning outcome and competence
The objective of the course is to provide students with an introduction to important aspects of Austral-Asian culture. Through studies abroad, students will improve their understanding of other cultures and in this way extend their academic perspectives. The course will also improve students’ knowledge and command of the English language.
Course content
While Australia has traditionally been under the influence of Greta Britain and the USA, the country has in recent decades to a greater extent oriented itself towards its neighbours in Asia. Immigration, trade and cultural exchanges within the Austral-Asian region are of ever-increasing importance to the country. At the same time the region is becoming more important as an economic and cultural locomotive in a global perspective. This is the background for the course in Austral-Asian cultural studies. Lectures will be offered on inter-disciplinary topics by the academic staff at VUC, Griffith University and various institutions in Asia. In addition students are expected to write a semester paper in cooperation with the departments to which they belong at VUC. In connection with the paper, students are expected to provide a syllabus of their own choice.
Teaching semester : Autumn
Organisation
The course of studies is divided into 5 periods:
2 week introductory course in Volda
1 week in Malaysia / Southeast Asia
6 weeks in Brisbane, Australia
2 weeks in Japan / Cairns
Dissertation writing with guidance up until the deadline for submission
During the six weeks the students are at Griffith University they will be expected to write an essay in English on a key topic from the syllabus. Lectures will be followed up with study/field trips.
Central topics are Australian art and culture (music/literature/film/media), religion, history, politics, education and welfare in relation to Australia as a multicultural society.
In Malaysia/Southeast Asia lectures will be given on Malaysia as a multicultural society, Portuguese/Dutch/British influence in the region.
In Japan there will be lectures on topics such as haiku-poetry, Japanese film, religion and culinary traditions. Traditional Japan will be presented with lecture and visits to among other places Miajima and Kyoto. In Kyoto students will spend the night in traditional ryokan. In Tokyo there will be a special focus on modern Japan.
Semester assignment
The semester assignment may be at 100- or at 200-level. This can be clarified with the faculty on the basis of each student’s individual education plan.
Requirements for semester paper
On the background of knowledge and experiences from the study trips and lectures, the students are to write a semester paper (about 10.000 words/20 pages) linked to the course of studies they are pursuing at VUC. The topic of the assignment must be approved by the student’s lecturer. The lecturer is also to be available as a supervisor via the Internet. Supervision will also be provided by members of the teaching staff at Griffith University. The paper is to be written in English.
Course requirements
The course of lectures in Volda prior to departure is compulsory. Each student must submit one compulsory written assignment in English on a central topic in the syllabus. The paper will be assessed by members of the academic staff at Griffith University as Pass or Fail. Towards the end of the course all students will be required to write down their reflections / a course evaluation.
Assessment and examination
The course of studies at Griffith University will be concluded with a written examination that will count 25% towards the final overall grade. The semester assignment will be assessed according to a scale from A-F and will represent 50% of the overall grade. The course will conclude with an individual viva (oral examination) based on the semester paper and the complete syllabus. This examination will count towards 25% of the overall grade. The academic staff at Griffith University will be represented at the oral examination.
Evaluation and quality assurance
The course will be evaluated in accordance with the University College’s routines for quality assurance.
Syllabus
1000 pages core syllabus (to be available at the start of the course)
4 novels (fiction)
4 films
4 CD’s
300 pages of student’s own choice in connection with the semester assignment. The syllabus must be approved by a member of the academic staff/supervisor at VUC.
More information needed?
Contact dean Kjell-Arild Madssen, Faculty of Humanities, 70075328 kam@hivolda.no or Cecilie Wilhelmsen, International office, 70075120 cw@hivolda.no
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