UTVB2200 Education and Religion in Developmnet - Intermediate Level Course description

Upon successful completion of the course, the student should master the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge

The student

• knows the main analytical approaches and key themes and terms in the study of migration, development and globalisation
• knows consequences of migration in both sending and receiving communities

Skills

The student

• can reflect critically on migration as historical processes involving social networks and individual needs
• can differentiate theoretically and methodologically between macro , meso and micro levels of historical and social analysis

General competence

The student

• knows how to link development and migration to cross-cultural issues
• is able to apply this knowledge in new academic contexts

To qualify to sit for the final exam, the student is required to write an academic paper of 2000 words (+/- 10%) on a given topic. This will enable the student to engage with the course literature and critically reflect on a particular topic. The assignment must be submitted digitally through HiOA's Learning Management System and within the stipulated deadline. No individual supervision will be provided for this paper.

The paper will be assessed as either 'approved' or 'not approved'. Students who do not get the required pass may rewrite and resubmit their paper once within a given deadline. Students who due to illness or other documented reasons for legal absence fail to submit this coursework requirement within the set deadline, can be given a new deadline. In this case, the student shall present the documents confirming his/her illness/reason.

The final assessment of this module consists of a four hours written exam.

New/postponed exam

In case of failed exam or legal absence, the student can apply for a new or postponed exam. New or postponed exam is offered within a reasonable time span following the regular exam. Submission and assessment of this will be in accordance with the conditions originally applicable.

The student is responsible for applying to sit for a new or postponed exam within the deadlines stipulated by HiOA and the Faculty of Education and International Studies. The regulations governing examinations are set out in the document -Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at Oslo and Akershus University College-.

Education, knowledge and competence are crucial elements in all theories and strategies for development. The course will focus specifically on the role of education in processes of social change as they have played out in history.Religion is an important foundation in many people's lives and often influences educational systems. Religion also works as an educational praxis on its own terms, as part of people's culture and ethos. The course will focus specifically on how religion is a crucial element in educational traditions, both historically and in contemporary societies. The course will take into consideration how education enables individual empowermentand stimulates national consolidation and poverty reduction. Further, it will be studied how modernization and globalization processes change education systems and give education new roles and importance in society.

Religion may be one important part of people's identity, and a growing attention is given to its uses and misuses in the context of politics and political conflicts. The course will highlight the ways in which religion interplays with various dimensions of social organization and differences, such as class, caste, gender and ethnicity. The relationship between religion and development is also a topic of growing interests in newer research. Importance will be given to how globalization also reshapes the meaning of religion in the development processes.

Principal themes are:

a. Tradition, modernity and the role of education

The analysis will take up connections between concepts of knowledge, culture and education systems. It will further discuss the influence of educational traditions on quality and relevance on education systems in contemporary times.

b. Education, national identity and the challenge of globalization

The analysis will focus on the relationship between education and state power under the challenge of globalization, in the light of knowledge and competence as crucial factors in the competition for power in modern society.

c. Rights perspectives and 'Education for All'

Analysis of education in international cooperation and how Rights perspectives can be ensured.

d. Tradition, modernity and the role of religion

The analysis will focus on the content of different religious traditions in regions in the South. It will address how religion works as part of the educational systems, and their reciprocal influence in shaping the societies.

e. Religion, development and globalization

The analysis will focus on the connections between the presence of religion amongst many people in societies in the South, how faith-based organizations take part in development processes.

The following grading scale is used: A to E for pass and F for no pass.

The exam will be jointly marked by an internal and an external examiner.

The course will explore the migration process by giving an insight into historical causes of migration as well as various theories of migration. Further, the migrants will be seen as participants in social organisation and social networks that may have an impact on their ability to handle the migration process. The course will also discuss consequences at different levels for the sending and receiving communities as well as consequences for the individual migrant.

The course is organised around two principal themes:

1. Historical processes of migration

• Dynamics between globalisation, development and migration
• Theories of migration

2. Migration and the migrants

• Social organisation and social networks:

Households, age groups, gender, ethnicity, clan, class, religion

Diaspora, transnationality, nationalism and identity

Individuals

A graded scale from A to E for passed and F for not passed will be used.

An internal and external examiner will conduct the assessment of the paper.

The course is open to students who have completed at least a one-year introductory course in Development Studies at either HiOA, the University of Agder or equivalent courses at other universities/university colleges in Norway or abroad.