PHUV9410 Professional Practice and Language Barriers Course description

Approved by the Doctoral Committee 28.03.2019. Minor changes approved 27.04.2020.

This PhD course is open for PhD candidates who are working on research projects in which linguistic diversity, language barriers and professional practice are topics of relevance.

The course will be offered in English.

The course will focus on research topics such as linguistic diversity and communication in institutional settings within education, health and the remainder of the public sector. The PhD candidates will become acquainted with a variety of empirical and theoretical approaches to linguistic diversity, interpreting and professional practice. Relevant topics include the importance of power, roles, rights, and duties. Students will especially be encouraged to reflect critically upon challenges related to language barriers and communication in their own research projects.

Quantum information technology implements quantum phenomena to process information and communicate it beyond the limits of the classical world. According to the EU Quantum Technologies Flagship report, such technology is based on the following pillars:

• Quantum computation
• Quantum communication
• Quantum simulation
• Quantum metrology and sensing

This course will introduce students to the first three of these fields, by equipping them with knowledge of principles, ideas, and methods. Many of these methods are also applicable within several other fields.

Prior knowledge in quantum physics is not required. The first few weeks of the course is dedicated to an introduction to key concepts in quantum physics. These concepts are introduced in a practical manner - with emphasis on simulation and phenomenology rather than theory.

The students will be trained to create their own quantum algorithms, simulate quantum systems, and implement the corresponding programs on classical and quantum computers. By implementing calculations and simulations of quantum systems, the students will learn about the fundamental quantum phenomena and key concepts. Moreover, in order to lay the proper foundation, the fundamental concepts of classical information theory is introduced.

A selection of recently published quantum algorithms and methods, including communication protocols, computational methods of modern quantum physics, and optimization algorithms, will be presented and analysed. Particular focus will be given to applications in data science in order to address research challenges in sustainable systems. Finally, the most recent challenges and particular proof of concept problems, including so-called quantum supremacy, will be addressed.

Organized tuition is given in the form of lectures and workshops. The course consists of two parts. The first part is a two-days workshop at OsloMet with mandatory participation. In lectures and discussions, students will be introduced to relevant theories and methods. The last part is a one-day mandatory workshop at OsloMet. In addition, there will be online learning activities. Candidates are expected to participate in all learning activities, both online and on-site. Candidates are expected to give oral and written feedback on other students’ work.

Preparations for the course

Candidates are expected to read the syllabus and to prepare a presentation before the course to be able to participate in discussions and activities.

Coursework requirements

The coursework requirements are: Mandatory participation, an oral presentation, a paper draft and a written and oral feedback to a co-student’s paper.

1. Mandatory participation: 80 % attendence at both workshops and learning activities online is required.
2. The oral presentation is to be prepared before the course starts and presented at the first workshop. The oral presentation should be no longer than fifteen minutes. The topic of the presentation must relate to linguistic diversity, language barriers and/or interpreting in a way that is relevant to the students’ PhD projects. Following the presentation there will be a five to ten minutes’ discussion.
3. The oral presentation will serve as foundation for a paper draft. The paper draft should be minimum 1000 and maximum 1500 words.
4. Written and oral feedback: Each student will comment one co-student’s paper draft, both in writing (250 - 500 words) and orally (3 - 5 minutes). ;

The candidate will write an individual paper based on the presentation and the comments by the student and staff, of 3000 words (+/- 10%) plus reference list. The paper must be written in English, Norwegian, Swedish or Danish.

In case of failed exam/legal absence, the candidate may have a new exam under the same conditions when a new/postponed exam is arranged. If the paper is graded with "fail", the candidate must submit a revised version within a given time limit.

None

The assessment will be based on a portfolio of the following:

• One individual project delivery consisting of a report (2000 - 4000 words)
• An individual oral examination (30 minutes)

The portfolio will be assessed as a whole and cannot be appealed.

New/postponed exam

In case of failed exam or legal absence, the student may apply for a new or postponed exam. New or postponed exams are offered within a reasonable time span following the regular exam. The student is responsible for registering for a new/postponed exam within the time limits set by OsloMet. The Regulations for new or postponed examinations are available in Regulations relating to studies and examinations at OsloMet.

In the event of a postponed examination in this course the exam may be held as an oral exam. Oral exams cannot be appealed.