UTVB2200 Education and Religion in Developmnet - Intermediate Level Course description

The course description is approved 22.05.12 by the Dean on behalf of the Academic Affairs Committee, Faculty of Education and International Studies and revised 23.05.13. Minor change approved 03.06.2016. Latest revision approved by the Academic Affairs Committee 11.05.17. 

The Faculty of Education and International Studies at Oslo and Akershus University College (HiOA) offers interdisciplinary courses in Development Studies and North-South relations, leading to a Bachelor's degree of 180 ECTS credits in Development Studies. This course on 'Education and Religion in Development' is a course at the intermediate level and gives 10 ECTS credits.

The course will be taught in English or Norwegian, depending on needs according to the participants' language abilities. The exam papers can be written in English, Norwegian, Swedish or Danish.

See programme description.

At the end of the course the student has obtained the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge

The student has knowledge of

• the role of education in the process of social change
• the role of different religious traditions as part of educational systems, and how these traditions interplay with patterns of change in different regions in the South
• the role of education in nation building and in influencing individual growth, intellectually and emotionally
• the Rights Perspective and how the policy goal of 'Education for All' relates to the needs of various groups in society
• the relationship between religion, educational systems and politics, and how numerous conflicts are related to religious identities
• the influence of religion both on changing and maintaining social organization, and how it intersects with other differences

Skills

The student

• can reflect critically on the role of education in the process of change in society and how religious traditions interplay

General competence

The student

• is familiar with issues related to education, religion and development and can present them in an independent way, orally and in writing

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 course will be running full time for six weeks. Seminar activities can be included in the lectures, where students are expected to participate actively.

In order to be admitted to the examination the student shall fulfil the following course work requirement: one three to four-page assignments on topics given by the lecturer. The work requirement gives the students an opportunity to reflect on central topics in the course literature. The assignment shall be submitted within the set deadline. If necessary, the student and teacher can agree on an extended deadline for submission of the assignment. The assignment is evaluated with -accepted- or -not accepted-. Students who get -not accepted- on their assignment may rewrite and submit maximum two new versions of the assignment. The student shall contact the teacher to get a new evaluation.

Final assessment will be based on an individual written assignment for four days based on a given topic. The writing of the assignment must be based on the course literature. The paper should be of 2600 words (+/-10 %).

In case of failed exam/legal absence, the student can submit a new paper when a new/postponed exam is arranged. New or postponed exams are offered within a reasonable time span following the regular exam.

The student is responsible for applying for a new exam within the time limits set by OsloMet and the Faculty of Education and International Studies. Regulations for new or postponed examinations are available in Regulations relating to studies and examinations at OsloMet. More information about registration and time for new or postponed examinations is available at the OsloMet’s web site.

Examination support material permitted.

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

The exam will be jointly marked by an internal and an external examiner. The external examiner will read a selection of the exam papers and collaborate with the internal examiner in a way that benefits all the students. 

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