Global Awareness: Sustainable Development in a Global Perspective Minor

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Global Awareness:

Sustainable

Development in a

Global Perspective

Minor

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The Global Awareness minor

Hogeschool Leiden, University of Applied Sciences, has been active in development cooperation for over 15 years. In this time, it has established important working relationships with many local partner organizations in countries like Zambia, Ghana, Mali, Ethiopia, Senegal, Bangladesh, Thailand and Brazil. Based on this knowledge, we are delighted to off er a minor in Global Awareness, best described as follows:

Looking beyond the boundaries of your own studies, university and country. Working together with students from diff erent study programmes and nationalities on a local development cooperation project that really matters. Enrolling in the Global Awareness minor will provide you with the necessary knowhow and expertise to actively help remove barriers to socioeconomic growth in developing countries, and will help prepare you to enter your professional life as a global citizen.

Period

The minor is given twice each academic year:

1. Autumn semester, starts last week of August, ends third week of January

2. Spring semester, starts in third week of January, ends fi rst week of July

General Information

This minor is open to undergraduates who have a basic understanding of their future profession. It is open to all bachelor’s and master’s students, and is especially recommended for those in Education, Pedagogics, Psychology, Social Work, Health, Business Studies, Cultural Studies, Entrepreneurship, Management, Technology, Construction, Design, Communication, ICT

and Law. The minor is taught in English.

Structure of the minor (30 EC)

Part Location Duration _{(consecutive)}

Preparatory programme Online -Basic programme (including

introduction week) Leiden, Netherlands 5 weeks Student internship Southern countries 13 weeks Return programme Leiden, Netherlands 2 weeks Minor Global Awareness 20weeks (one

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Aim of the minor

The Global Awareness minor is unique for a number of reasons. These reasons can be divided into three main principles that are a practical translation of important UNESCO goals for international cooperation in higher education: The principle of sustainable development

■The minor is based on an approach towards development that, in our view, leads to development that is more sustainable. You will be interacting with local professionals and local communities. As such, you will acquire an appreciation of values as well as contribute to the

enhancement of values that Hogeschool Leiden, University of Applied Sciences, has identified as pivotal: kindness, and care for individuals and society.

■You will contribute towards real and realistic as well as appropriate and sustainable developments that directly benefit local projects in Southern countries.

■The minor aims to develop long-lasting relationships between projects in southern countries and Hogeschool Leiden, University of Applied Sciences. Twice a year, groups of students will be able to contribute towards developments in these projects.

The principle of global awareness

■The minor brings together students from various faculties, cultures and nationalities in a single, international classroom where, together, you will learn with and from one another, as well as from lecturers with practical experience and expertise in global development.

■You will face issues that exceed the limits of your profession. This will provide an understanding of the importance of multi-disciplinary and trans-disciplinary work regarding global issues.

■The minor does not offer a blueprint regarding a specific development theory. Instead, it will help you become aware of the (current) challenges and dilemmas the world faces. Ultimately, it offers a range of perspectives and ingredients that will allow you to develop your own vision of development (cooperation)

The principle of social responsibility

■The minor will help you and leaders in society become (more) socially responsible.

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Theoretical content

The programme covers the following topics:

History and trends in development cooperation; Development issues and stakeholders; Culture, tradition and development; Intercultural Communication; Human Rights and violation of human rights; Participation and participatory approaches; The concept of sustainability; Community Development; Inclusive development; Adult Education and Development; Vulnerable groups; Refugees and migration; Globalization and environment; Lobby, advocacy and networking.

Internship

During your 13-week internship, you will be working on-site in small multi-disciplinary groups in local projects in Southern countries. Projects have been carefully selected in the following countries: Bangladesh, Thailand, Ethiopia, Ghana, Zambia, Brazil, Surinam, Mali and Senegal. For more information about the projects, please visit: www.hsleiden.nl Entry requirements/level

■Undergraduate level.

■English language skills: IELTS test (grade: 6.0); equivalent to CEFR level B2.

Student Profile

To be accepted on the programme, you must be an undergraduate student and you are expected to have sufficient English Language skills, as mentioned above. At the time you go abroad to one of the projects in a Southern country, you should also have the following competences: ■Intercultural competences (to cooperate, have an open

mind and open communication).

■Experience with other cultures and the ability to function in another culture.

■The ability to recognise and acknowledge other cultures’ frames of reference.

■Empathy towards other cultures.

■The ability to adapt to another culture’s values and standards. ■Knowledge of your own frame of reference and your limitations. ■The ability to form a realistic and positive concept of development

cooperation.

■The ability to formulate a vision concerning development cooperation.

■Flexibility. ■Adaptability.

■The ability to cooperate on equal terms.

■The ability to have an open mind for new experiences, impressions and visions.

■Emotional stability. ■Creativity and pro-activity. Examination

There will be various assessments and exams: self- and peer-assessment, a paper, two presentations, one written exam and a report.

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Sabine Zuidhoek, fourth-year student in Applied Psychology, did a work placement for a project called ‘Leri for Life’ in Suriname. The ‘Leri for Life’ project enhances the personal and social development of communities in the villages of Boven Suriname by investing in education.

“Participating in the Leri for Life project has been a life-changing experience for me. The great involvement within the organisation and its vision really touch me. The unique thing about this placement is that you learn to complete your own tasks while working within a team of people whom you start to consider family. You live and work together with people from different cultures. Living in the jungle is impressive, breathtaking and incredibly beautiful. But it does take some getting used to. It really is ‘back to basics’. You learn a lot about yourself while being able to give back something beautiful!”

Pleuni Dirven, third-year Communications student did a work placement with the CEDRES project in Ghana. CEDRES builds capacity in community health for the prevention and appropriate response to disability in Ghana.

“By working on the CEDRES project in Ghana, I have discovered a new culture and have met people with a different outlook on life. There are many cultural differences between Ghana and Holland. In the beginning this was quite difficult for me, although ultimately the experience made me more of a ‘global citizen’ (so my mum says). The CEDRES project has made me wiser and more worldly. My self-confidence has grown. An experience abroad is always a positive one if you ask me!

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How to apply?

For international students: www.hsleiden.nl For Dutch students: www.kiesopmaat.nl

Application deadlines

For the Autumn semester: 1 April For the Spring semester: 1 October

Costs

International students from partner institutions, and Dutch students who have permission from their own university to participate in this minor are not required to pay a tuition fee. You are personally responsible for costs such as

accommodation and travelling in Leiden and in the Southern country where you will be doing your internship.

Accommodation

Hogeschool Leiden, University of Applied Sciences will assist in arranging accommodation for the international students with host families in Leiden.

Contact

If you have questions about the content and/or the organization of the minor please send an e-mail to globalawareness@hsleiden.nl