Centre for Multicultural and International Studies
- Education and Development (undergraduate level)
- Water and Development (undergraduate level)
- South Asia: Religion, Politics and Development (undergraduate level)
- Development and Migration (undergraduate level)
Education and Development
ECTS credits: 10
Level: Undergraduate (Intermediate)
Prerequisites: The course is open to students who have completed a one-year introductory course or equivalent course(s) in Development Studies.
Semester: Spring (April-May)
Assessment: The assessment consists of an individual essay over 5 days based on a given topic. The essay should be of 4000 words (+/-10%) / approx. 10 pages. A graded scale from A to E for pass and F for not passed will be used.
Aims and contents: This course provides an understanding of the role of education in the process of change in society, from a historical perspective and considering different cultures in the South. Emphasis will be placed on how education influences an individual’s personal growth, intellectually and emotionally, and on qualitative concerns related to poverty reduction. Finally, the rights perspective will be explored and how “Education for All” relates to the needs of various groups in society. The students will also acquire insight into the main issues and principal actors in international cooperation regarding education and development.
The course is organised around three principle themes:
1. The importance of education for national identity and consolidation, and the challenge of globalisation.
Governments use education to establish and maintain their value base and power, through national identity and consolidation. While this is still important, national states are challenged by processes of globalisation where borders in many ways are vanishing away and cultures are opening up to new influences. Knowledge is fundamental for power, and education a prerequisite for people to know about their rights and to influence efforts to improve their lives.
2. Tradition, modernity and the role of education
Development may be defined as expansion of people’s choices to improve their life quality. How education can contribute will be discussed, with focus on concepts of knowledge and education systems, and differences in views upon quality of life. Quality is concerned with relevant and contextual education and what it means for different groups in society. Finally, the possibility for society to make use of the knowledge acquired from education will be discussed.
3. Education for All - EFA - as a universal goal and consequences for different groups and levels in the education system. “Education for All” represents a difficult challenge for many poor countries. The main responsibility is with the governments, but additional contributions from international cooperation partners have in most cases been necessary. Strong and weak aspects of the programmes, the relation between national plans and the situation at local level, the needs at different levels in the education system and how different groups in society have admission into the system will be discussed.
Water and Development
ECTS credits: 10
Level: Undergraduate (Intermediate)
Prerequisites: The course is open to students who have completed a one-year introductory course or equivalent course(s) in Development Studies.
Semester: Spring (February-March)
Assessment: The assessment is based on an individual assignment over 5 days based on a given topic. The paper should be of 4000 words (+/-10%) / approx. 10 pages. A graded scale from A to E for passed and F for not passed will be used.
Aims and contents: The course shall provide students with insights into the various relationships between water and development; in particular how water resources, water management and water use may be linked to production, social organisation, cultural expression and well being. The students should also acquire an understanding of the principal actors and main issues in international co-operation in development of water resources and in the managing of water conflicts.
The course is organised around three principal themes:
1. Freshwater as a resource
- The hydrologic cycle: Water as a finite but renewable resource. Climate, seasonal adaptations.
- The uses of water: agriculture and animal husbandry, households, industry, transport, wildlife, tourism, ritual.
- Water scarcity and water stress – international approaches.
- Geopolitics of water: interstate rivers and lakes. International/regional/national conflicts over water use and pollution and management of such conflicts.
2. Water resource management
- Resource analysis and planning at regional, national, local and household levels.
- Service provision and institutions. Technologies and models. International approaches. The right to water.
- Privatisation and pricing of water for households, agriculture, industry.
3. Water and well-being
- Access to water services. Poverty. Household management of water. Sanitation.
- Water and health. Water-related diseases. International co-operation and local realities.
- Human settlements – a summary of water related issues of management, conflict, technologies, culture.
South Asia: Religion, Politics and Development
ECTS credits: 10
Level: Undergraduate (Intermediate)
Prerequisites: The course is open to students who have completed a one-year introductory course or equivalent course(s) in Development Studies.
Semester: Spring (February-March)
Assessment: The assessment is based on an individual assignment over 5 days based on a given topic. The paper should be of 4000 words (+/-10%) / approx. 10 pages. A graded scale from A to E for passed and F for not passed will be used.
Aims and contents: One overall objective of the course is to provide students with a general understanding of the political, social and cultural situation in South Asia: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The students should become familiar with the various developmental and political paths the countries have chosen in the post-colonial period, and acquire knowledge of historical premises for the nature of political, ethnic and religious conflicts in the region. The course should enable the students to acquire an insight of central aspects of politics, culture and society in these four countries.
Countries in South Asia are very different. Religion and politics are interrelated and inform processes of development. One central issue in this course is the role of the state in development processes; another is the relationship between state and civil society. One point of reference is the partition of the subcontinent in 1947, which meant the creation of Pakistan (East and West) and modern India, and the establishment of Bangladesh (previously East Pakistan) in 1971. The antagonistic relationship between Pakistan and India, the radicalisation of Islam in Pakistan and the civil war in Sri Lanka are other topics, as are Hindu nationalism, the relationship between gender, caste and class, identity politics in Bangladesh and the tense situation in Kashmir.
Development and Migration
ECTS credits: 30
Level: Undergraduate (Intermediate)
Prerequisites: The course is open to students who have completed a one-year introductory course or equivalent course(s) in Development Studies.
Semester: Autumn (August-December)
Assessment: The assessment will be based on two parts:
1) Three individual papers on topics chosen by the student but in coherence with the actual theme. The topic has to be approved by the course leader. Each paper should be of 3500 words (+/- 10%) / approx. 7-9 pages. All three papers will constitute a portfolio which is to be handed in (in three copies) within a date set by SEFIA.
2) An oral exam.
Aims and contents: The course will explore the migration process by giving an insight into historical causes of migration as well as various types and theories of migration. Further, the migrants will be seen as participants in social organisation and social networks that may have an impact on their ability to handle the migration process. Finally, the course will discuss consequences at different levels for the sending and receiving communities as well as consequences for the individual migrant.
The course is organised around three principal themes:
1. Historical processes of migration
· Dynamics between globalization, development and migration
· Various types of migration
· Various theories of migration
· Legal aspects of migration
· Citizenship
2. Migration and the migrants
· Social organisation:
Households, age groups, gender, ethnicity, clan, class, religion
· Social networks:
Diaspora, trans-nationality, nationalism and identity
3. Consequences of migration
· Sending and receiving communities:
cultural, social, economical and political issues
· Individuals:
cultural, social, economical, political and health issues