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Global Development Issues

Start moment(s)
September, February
Location
Tilburg
ECTs
30
Language
Dutch, English
Duration
20 weeks
  • About this minor
  • Programme
  • How to apply
  • Minor orientations

The world is characterised by various development issues, such as spatial inequality, the contrast between rich and poor, an environment that is under pressure, access to sufficient and safe food, dealing with violent conflicts and bad health. As a global citizen, consumer and future professional, you are likely to be closely involved in these development issues. Wouldn’t it be interesting to learn more about these issues and be able to partake in this debate with well-argued opinions? Moreover, wouldn’t it be motivating to come up with small-scale possible solutions and put these solutions into practice during an internship abroad? Consider doing this minor if your answer to these questions is ‘yes’!  

The aim of this programme will be to learn how to identify and analyse global development issues and how to contribute to a potential solution in your own profession, bearing in mind the four, all-embracing aspects of society, i.e. the economic, ecological, social and cultural dimensions of existence.

Content

The minor consists of four parts:
A Course: Justice (4 EC)
B Course: Introduction to development issues (10 EC)
C Course: Culture and interculturality (6 EC)
D Internship (10 EC)

The minor consists of four parts. The first three components work from a theoretical foundation using scientific literature and concepts in order to give you tools to analyse various development issues in detail. The last component is a practical internship in a developing country.

The four parts are:
  • A Course: Justice (4 EC)
  • B Course: Introduction to development issues (10 EC)
  • C Course: Culture and interculturality (6 EC)

  • D Internship (10 EC)

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Development is mainly a matter of fair distribution of resources. During the ‘Justice’ module, the central question is always to which extent a distribution policy is just. The judgement whether a given distribution is fair or not, depends not only on the actual distribution, but also on the concept of justice. You will learn different theories about justice, analyse situations based on these theories and come to your own view on what just distribution is.
During this course, you will get to know various development issues. For that, you will initially learn how to  perceive these issues from a general context. That context consists of a selection of literature on development theories, views on (sustainable) development, systems thinking, globalization and working with future scenarios. You will subsequently apply this knowledge to five specific cases, such as the resource conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Finally, you will be expected to show your ability to assess possible solutions to development issues.
In this course, you will learn how cultural identity is constructed and how culture(s) can be analysed on the basis of different theoretical concepts, from cultural anthropology to cultural dimensions. You will learn to recognize the core values of your own culture and their importance for judging and communication. Moreover,  you will learn to apply theories of intercultural communication in specific situations. You will be able to reflect upon your own cultural position and that of others, using different perspectives on culture (culture visions) and to analyse geopolitical conflicts from a cultural point of view.

The internship is the synthesis module of all parts of this minor. For four weeks, you will participate in an existing project in a developing country where – in addition to substantive goals – you will have to show that you are able to collaborate with people from different cultures.

In the months leading up to the internship, you will prepare yourself and your stay abroad during weekly meetings. On the basis of a work plan, you formulate learning objectives, you describe the project and you prepare for local conditions. The preparation includes making the previously mentioned work plan, a culture analysis and several guest lectures by experts.

Examples of internships in a developing country in recent years:

  • Organizing activities for young people in Malawi;
  • Making a video report about a sustainable agricultural project in the Moluccas;
  • Supporting an exchange project between schools in the Netherlands and Romania;
  • Reorganising and maintaining a school building in rural Nepal;
  • Teaching disabled children in Vietnam.

Costs

In addition to the standard costs of a stay abroad, the internship in a developing country brings additional costs of around €2000 (incl. flight). It also requires necessary preparation concerning, for example, a visa. In cooperation with your teacher you’ll search for a suitable place for your internship.

Minor starting September 2024

- The application period opens on 1 February 2024

- The application period closes on 1 July 2024

Minor starting February 2025

- The application period opens on 1 July 2024

- The application period closes on 15 December 2024

Please note!

The application deadline for the minor abroad differs. Some minors have a numerus fixus or fill up quickly. So always check the page of the minor of your choice.

To attend in the minor, the student must:

  • have passed the propaedeutic phase or;
  • have received permission from the examination board of his/her programme.

Have you already thought about your choice of minor? Do you want to immerse yourself in your profession, or do something completely different? Your choice of your minor can be quite difficult. The most important thing is that you choose something that suits you. This way you can distinguish yourself from others and make your studies even more personal. But how do you choose? And what can you choose? 

(Online) minor orientation week
To help you with your choice, we organise an (online) minor orientation week from 23 to 28 March. During these orientation sessions, you will learn more about the content of the minors and you can ask any question you may have. Registration is open!

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Contact

Contactperson: Marij Zöllner

Minimum number of students

Minimum number of students for English variant is standard 15, otherwise the minor will not take place. You will be informed in time.

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Prof. Goossenslaan 1, Tilburg

Locatiekaart op adres: Prof. Goossenslaan  1, Tilburg