PREV6000 Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and Self-determined Contraceptive Choices Course description

The following course work requirement must be met before the examination may be sat:

• Introductory assignment . This is a paper of approx. 1800 words (+/- 10%) / approx. 4-5 pages, where students are asked to discuss the concepts of development, poverty and sustainable development. At this stage, all communication between student and teachers is based on e-mail. The paper is to be submitted through e-mail before students go to Vietnam. It will be assessed within the following week and is evaluated as Accepted/Not accepted.

Course work requirements must be met within fixed deadlines. Course work requirements must be met also by students with valid absence from classes documented by medical certificate. Students, who, due to illness or other valid and documented reasons, do not meet the course work requirements within the fixed deadlines, may be given a new deadline. A new deadline for meeting the course work requirements is in each individual case given by the teacher of the course in question.

Students who meet the course work requirements within the fixed deadline, but get the evaluation Not Accepted, are entitled to two new attempts to fulfil the course work requirements. A new deadline for meeting the course work requirements is in each individual case given by the teacher of the course in question.

Examinations Group examination and individual home examination

At the beginning of their stay in Vietnam, the students form groups of 3-5 persons. The purposes of these groups are to work on current topics from the lectures and literature, and to complete the group examination. There will be a seminar on how to write papers, in which the seminar teacher will suggest topics of relevance. The seminar teacher is instrumental in forming the groups and supervising them during the writing process.

• The group examination is linked to the topics of the course as a whole. This is a paper on a topic of each group's own choosing, of approx. 10 800 words (+/- 10%) / approx. 25-30 pages, which the students write in groups during their stay in Vietnam. Here, they shall combine perspectives from the literature and lectures, preferably link up with empirical cases from the region of South East Asia, while drawing on literature that the group finds relevant. The paper shall be submitted within the given deadline. The group examination is given a mark (A-F) counting 40% of the final result. The group examination is marked by one internal and one external examiner.
• Individual home examination , i.e. an essay of approx. 4400 words (+/- 10%)/approx. 10-12 pages, where students shall prove their analytical skills and understanding in the discussion of a given topic. The individual home examination is given a mark (A-F) counting 60% of the final result. The individual home examination is marked by one internal and one external examiner.

The students' academic performance is assessed on the basis of the group examination and the individual home examination (see above).

The student will be awarded a composite grade where the group examination counts 40% and the individual home examination counts 60% of the final mark.

Students who fail their group examination, or who pass but wish to improve their grade, may submit a revised version of their group paper or write an individual paper, 4.400 words +/- 10%, on a topic related to the curriculum. The deadline for such papers coincides with the deadline for general evaluation the following term. Likewise, those who either fail their individual home examination or wish to improve their grade may submit a new paper in connection with the ordinary examinations the following term. This also applies for students with valid absence.

Regulations for new or postponed examinations are available in Regulations relating to studies and examinations at OsloMet. Students must register for a new or postponed examination.

Teaching and learning are centred around students’ participation in classes and group activities. The course is organized in digital and/or physical gatherings of intensive tuition, with lectures, workshops, group presentations and discussions.

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved advanced level in the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student will attain knowledge within:

• systems theory, systemic design and sustainability
• cybernetics and communication theory
• conversation theory
• systems dynamics and systems analysis
• game dynamics in systems
• methods for data gathering in complex settings (visual interviewing, design probes and play probes, co-design, among others)

Skills

The student is capable of:

• describing complex contexts through systems thinking as basis for design
• creating GIGA-maps
• usages of GIGA-maps as conversation, data gathering, research, analysis, and design tools
• utilizing systemic design methods for data gathering, workshop facilitation, cooperation, common analysis, data documentation, intervention and the analysis of the effect of the interventions
• documenting all findings in common visualizations and reducing data into graphs that communicate for example discussions, findings, tendencies, causality, dynamics, emergence i.a.
• creating services and products on the basis of the above mentioned skills

General competence

The student attains advanced competence in systemic design by:

• developing the ability to understand and handle complexity and systems thinking in design processes in groups with stakeholders
• holistic thinking and understanding of design projects in relation to sustainability, environmental and social megatrends, general societal contexts and dynamics, culture, politics, market, and technological contexts
• communication and cooperation by visualization, GIGA-mapping, and other types of mapping
• the capability to play a lead and cooperative role in design related projects in public and business contexts
• the ability to implement a chosen specialization as an additional approach or focus within this specific course context

The following coursework requirements must have been approved in order for the student to take the exam:

• Coursework: The students need to complete four online quizzes. One at the beginning of the course, then three quizzes during the course.

The coursework is required to secure the students’ progress through the course.

All required coursework must be completed and approved by the given deadline in order for the student to take the exam. If the coursework requirement has not been approved, the student will be given one opportunity to a new submission by the given deadline.

The exam in the course consists of two parts:

1. An individual term paper and a code repository. The course paper must have a scope of 3.000 to 5.000 words. Font and font size: Arial / Calibri 12 points. Line spacing: 1.5.
2. An individual oral presentation. The presentation must have a scope of approximately 10-15 minutes.

The term paper counts for 60 % of the final mark. The oral presentation counts for 40 % of the final mark. Each part must be passed to be given a final grade. The oral presentation cannot be appealed.

Students awarded a fail grade are given one opportunity to submit an improved version of the assignment for assessment.

Individual project examination in the form of a topic chosen by the student that is developed during the course. Scope: 2,500 words (+/- 10%).

Resit examination: If the student is awarded the grade F (fails the written assignment), he/she will be given one (1) opportunity to submit a reworked version.

All aids are permitted, as long as the rules for source referencing are complied with.

Introducing development studies

This first part provides a set of readings that explore basic development concepts and introduce some of the theories and approaches within development. Students discuss three concepts in an introductory paper: development, poverty, and sustainable development, and consider how development is understood from a variety of perspectives. This part of the course is entirely web-based.

Research design and field methodology

Students will be given an introduction to research methodology. Covered by three lectures, qualitative and quantitative research methods, research design and evaluation of primary data will be presented. Field ethics will also be emphasized.

History, politics and economic development, globalisation and democracy

The course covers development initiatives that take place at global, national and local levels, current trends in development and development theories, and draws on political and economic

theories. Processes of globalization will be discussed, such as global patterns of resource distribution and their effect on both poverty levels and the environment in various parts of the world, questioning how power relations are reflected in these patterns. This will include discussion of the global economy, international trade, debt, and international institutions like the World Trade Organization (WTO), International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. Policies and practices of national governments, and actions at a community level by NGOs and local organizations, will be considered in terms of their impact on poverty and environmental concerns, including attention to human rights and the control people have over their own lives.

Population, environment and livelihood

The overall topic of this part of the course is material living conditions in developing countries, especially among the poor. Central issues are questions of environmental sustainability, food security and famine, health problems and health care, migration and demography. It includes consideration of the many ways in which poor people try to make a living.

Culture, gender and knowledge

This part directs itself to the level of people's lives and the conditions for change. We study the impact of culture on development and the social context of people's interactions. The main concepts are identity, ethnicity, nationalism, religion and the influence of gender on social life and work relations. We also include the role of learning and knowledge for people to improve their life situation.

Regional focus: South East Asia / Vietnam

Here we look at South East Asia in general, and Vietnam in particular, in order to exemplify the development topics and debates outlined in the previous parts of the course. You will be introduced to the position of South East Asia in the global system. The varied contemporary social, economic and political structures found in the region will be outlined and their cultural and historical origins explored. An examination of the nature and relative success of various South East Asian developments will also be presented.

Organisation and requirements

As part of the course, students complete one compulsory assignment, one group examination and one home examination. The Study Guide of the course will give details about deadlines defined by OsloMet.