SFV5000 Law in Child Welfare and Social Work Course description

The course description was approved by the Academic Affairs Committee 10 April 2014

and revised 30 November 2015. Minor change approved 20 November 2017

Revised September 2023

Reading List updated 20 November 2017

The course was established by the Dean 28 May 2014

OsloMet offers a one semester full-time course (30 ECTS credits) in development studies in Ghana. The course is a joint venture between OsloMet and Kulturstudier (Culture Studies), an independent Oslo-based organisation that offers international academic courses in the fields of culture and human development at study centres in Vietnam, India, Argentina and Latin America. OsloMet offers interdisciplinary courses in development issues and North-South relations, leading to a bachelor's degree of 180 ECTS credits in Development Studies. Students who complete Development Studies I and Development Studies II can apply to continue their studies and complete a bachelor's degree in Development Studies at OsloMet by taking courses worth 120 ECTS (the 2nd and 3rd year at the bachelor programme). Be aware that the 3rd and 6th semester in this bachelor programme are taught in Norwegian, while 4th and 5th semester can be offered in English.

The aim of Development Studies II is to combine a study of the academic and institutional literature with field study, taking an inductive approach where learning from the field experience is brought to the literature and informs theory, rather than a deductive approach that applies a particular theory to research data. Thus, the field study will become part of the course curriculum. In addition, there will be a programme of lectures around four core themes, taught through an interdisciplinary social science/humanistic approach incorporating elements of history, geography, social anthropology, political science, economics and sociology. The course activities (lectures, seminars, assignments, examination) as well as the literature are all in English.

The first part of the course is web-based. After this, the students leave for Ghana to attend 10 weeks of lectures, academic activities and field study. The final five weeks are again web-based.

Etter fullført emne har studenten følgende læringsutbytte definert som kunnskap, ferdigheter og generell kompetanse:

Kunnskap

Studenten har

• kunnskap om den lærende organisasjon og arbeidsplassen som læringsarena
• kunnskap om veiledning og coaching som metode i konflikthåndtering
• kunnskap om kompetanseutvikling i team
• kunnskap om suksessfaktorer i endrings- og utviklingsarbeid
• kunnskap om kontekstuelle og kulturelle forhold i endrings- og utviklingsprosesser
• kunnskap om makt- og motprosesser i endrings- og utviklingsarbeid
• kunnskap om teoretisk og metodisk fundament for utviklingsarbeid

Ferdigheter

Studenten har

• ferdigheter i å håndtere gruppedynamikk og gruppeprosesser
• ferdigheter i forankrings- og nettverksarbeid
• anvende sin handlingskompetanse som veileder og coach i endrings- og utviklingsprosesser
• analysere og vurdere egen kompetanse som veileder og coach

Generell kompetanse

Studenten kan

• bidra til kompetanseutvikling på individ-, gruppe- og organisasjonsnivå
• tilrettelegge for myndiggjøring/empowerment og mestring hos deltagerne

The course combines self-study with a period of study in Ghana. The period of study in Ghana includes lectures, seminars, field trips, work in smaller groups, methodological preparations and project development for field study, etc.

The field study is the core of the course and is carried out in small groups. Theoretical and methodological knowledge will be deepened by designing their own of research project, collect data through interviews or other methods, and relate their own research to discussions in development studies. The seminar leader will help with the formation of groups and with local staff arrange for individual or group placements in organizations, villages or neighborhoods.

I eksamensbesvarelsen skal studentene, i grupper* på 2-4 studenter, analysere og drøfte et utviklingsprosjekt knyttet til veiledning eller coaching de har gjennomført på valgt arena. Eksamensbesvarelsen skal vise planlegging, gjennomføring og refleksjon over utviklingsarbeidet og være knyttet opp mot relevant teori. Omfang: 6000 til 8000 ord.

*Det kan skriftlig søkes faglærer om å levere eksamen individuelt

Arbeidet med prosjekteksamen foregår gjennom hele emnet. Innlevering av eksamensoppgaven er ved avslutning av emnet.

Ved klage på karakter etter gruppeeksamen kan klage framsettes av enkeltstudenter eller hele gruppen. Eventuelt ny karakter gjelder for den studenten / de studenter som har klaget.

Ny/utsatt eksamen

Ny/utsatt eksamen gjennomføres som ved ordinær eksamen. Dersom det ikke kan dannes en gruppe/grupper avlegges eksamen som individuell eksamen.

Eksamen er en praksisrelatert oppgave. Til første ny/utsatt eksamen leveres omarbeidet versjon av prosjektoppgaven. Ved senere forsøk leveres ny prosjektoppgave.

Students will be assessed on the basis of a home exam and field study report which respectively count 40% and 60% of the final mark. Both exams must be passed in order to be awarded a final grade. If a student does not pass one of the exams, only the failed exam shall be re-taken. The Study Guide of the course will give details about deadlines defined by OsloMet.

Home exam (40 %)

An individual home exam of 3000 words +/- 10 %. This exam is based on the compulsory curriculum and will be held over 72 hours. This exam is marked (A-F) by one internal and one external examiner.

Field study report (60 %)

This is completed after the stay in Ghana when the students are again studying on their own. This is done individually, and each student writes a report on the basis of the field study done with the group. All data material collected during the fieldwork will be shared among the group members. The students will get online supervision for the writing of this report. The report must be between 6000 and 8000 words. The report is to be submitted electronically. This examination is given a mark (A-F) by one internal and one external examiner.

The students' academic performance is based on the two assessments presented above, and students will be awarded a composite grade based on the marks and the percentage for each exam.

New or postponed examination

In case of failed exam/legal absence, the student can have a new individual home exam under the same conditions when a new/postponed exam is arranged. A student who fail his/her individual field study report, or who pass but wish to improve the grade, may submit a revised version. The deadline for this coincides with the deadline for general evaluation the following term.

Vurderingsuttrykk: A-F. Alle studenter i gruppen fåt samme karakter

Det benyttes to interne sensorer. Tilsynssensor evaluerer vurderingsformer og vurderingsprosesser i studieprogrammet.

Development Studies II is intended for

• students who wish to include development studies as a part of a bachelor's degree
• professionals (teachers, nurses, journalists, engineers etc.) and others who seek further education in international, development and multicultural issues.

Admission requirement

Applicants must qualify for university admission in Norway. Development Studies II is a second level course and builds on Development Studies I (offered in Vietnam) or UTVB1100 Introduksjon til utviklingsstudier and UTVB1200 Regionalkunnskap og globalhistorie at OsloMet. The requirement is that students have done at least 30 credit units in development studies, or 60 credit units in social sciences. Be aware that students who are granted admission on the basis of 60 credit units in social sciences, with no development studies, will not be granted admission in the second year in the bachelor programme in Development Studies at OsloMet.

As this course is a second level course within development studies, it will be organised around four core themes building on Development Studies 1 in Vietnam or UTVB1100 Introduksjon til utviklingsstudier and UTVB1200 Regionalkunnskap og globalhistorie at OsloMet.

The Regional Context

This theme provides an introduction to the African experience of development, related to African history, environment, culture and political development. Global influences will be considered, as well as the particular experiences of Ghana. One aim will be to show the many and diverse social and cultural changes that have taken place in the region as a result of political and economic policies and programmes.

Environment, climate and development

This theme will analyse key environmental issues with relation to development processes and understandings of sustainable development. Changes in natural resources, natural resource management and political ecology are central topics, as are agriculture and livelihood.

Critical and alternative approaches to development

This theme delves into critical and alternative approaches in development studies, such as postcolonialism, decolonization, and feminist viewpoints. It examines the impact of colonialism on development practices and challenges traditional narratives, while also exploring power dynamics and gender norms within development.

Studying development in the field

Conducting a field study is a core component of the course. Lectures and activities will be conducted in order to give students a solid foundation in various methodologies (quantitative, qualitative, and participatory), an appreciation of the difficulties, constraints and opportunities, as well as a consideration of their positionality and ethical issues related to doing development research.