UTVB2210 Education and Religion in Development Course description

This course thematize the role Education and Religion play in developmental processes and discourses, both in their own right and by intersecting other central developmental topics of social mobility, power structures, globalization, colonial, decolonial and gender debates, as well as the role of education in marginalized positions.

The course will be taught in English or Norwegian, depending on needs according to the participants’ language abilities and the presence of international exchange students.

The intermediate course of Norwegian is an introduction to central aspects of Norwegian language. The objective of the course is to enable the candidates to understand and use Norwegian for basic exchange of information in everyday communication. Course objectives are aligned with the requirements of an A2 level exam.

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

Knowledge

The student

• has knowledge of the role of education for development in international policy programs, historically and at present
• has knowledge of the content, and challenges raised by, education as Right based Development anchored in international educational policies and conventions
• has knowledge of the impact of religious traditions on educational systems in different contexts, historically and at present, with a specific focus on the global South
• has knowledge of educational systems, colonial legacies, and decolonial debates
• has knowledge of the role of education for development for people in marginalized situations
• has knowledge of effects of globalized educational systems and commodification of education

Skills

The student

• can reflect critically on the role of education in the process of change in society and how religious traditions interplay
• can transfer theoretical and practical knowledge of the role of education in development processes, onto new research, with help of established and acknowledged methodology and academic guidance, for then be able to unfold improved knowledge of the field

General competence

The student

• is familiar with issues related to education, religion and development and can present them in an independent way, individually, and as part of a group, orally and in writing, with high academic ethical and moral standards
• can through knowledge of varied contexts where education play a role in developmental processes, critically discuss, and acknowledge, diverse sets of solutions and outcomes, to promote positive change

International exchange students, who are admitted to the study programmes at Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet) for the current term, will be given priority over other applicants. Other categories of international students who currently follow study programmes at OsloMet, may be admitted to the course provided that there will be available places. Trainees through the ‘Akademisk dugnad’ at OsloMet must be approved by the Section for Internationalisation and must meet the general admission requirements for Higher Education Entrance Qualification.

Admission to the intermediate course requires a passing grade from the beginner’s level course or A1- level language competencies in Norwegian. When applying for admission to the intermediate course, such competencies must be affirmed either by a diploma/course certificate from an A1-level language course or through an interview with the academic coordinator. On the basis of this interview students can either be granted admission to the intermediate course or denied such admission. Applicants who wish to be evaluated on basis of an interview have to contact the academic coordinator within the application deadline. The result of the interview cannot be appealed.

The following categories will not be able to apply for the course:

• Applicants with equivalent or higher language competence
• Other categories of applicants, who are not international students at OsloMet
• Students with ordinary admission to OsloMet

Ranking of qualified applicants

Qualified applicants will be ranked in the following order:

• Erasmus+ students and trainees.
• Exchange students from other exchange programmes.
• Trainees through the ‘Akademisk dugnad’ at OsloMet and have been recommended by the Section for Internationalisation.
• Master’s degree programme students.

Applicants in each category will be ranked according to drawing of lots principle.

To be admitted to the examination the student shall fulfil the following course work requirement: one individual assignment on 1200 words (+/- 10%), on a given topic. The student shall formulate a problem based on the topic and answer the problem. 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’ and will be evaluated by co-students in small groups of three - to four students, and in collaboration with the teacher, based on a template and instruction, given by the teacher, and announced in detail on Canvas. The work requirement gives the students an opportunity to reflect on central topics in the course literature, and function as an exercise for both the writer and the co-students, on how to interpret exam questions. Students who get ‘not accepted’ on their assignment may rewrite and submit a new version of the assignment at a date set by the teacher. This assignment is evaluated with ‘accepted’ or ‘not accepted’ by the teacher.

REQUIREMENTS

Students may sit exam only if the following requirements are met:

• Submitting two individual seminar assignments - each being a 2-page report of a seminar group discussion. Assignments are graded pass/fail.
• Attending at least 70% of seminars.

The purpose of the above is to ensure that students engage actively with the curriculum during the course, and share insights and reflections with each other. Self-study cannot substitute for the imparting of knowledge and learning through class-room activity, and group-based and student-led learning is of particular importance. The individual student must be present in the seminars in which s/he is tasked with writing reports.

Students attending less than 50% of seminars automatically forfeit the right to sit exam, no matter the reason for absence.

A student who fails the 70% attendance requirement, or who fails to submit his/her reports by deadline - but does have legitimate grounds for such failure - may request an additional assignment: a paper of 2,000 words, on a title given by the teacher, to be submitted within 72 hours of issue. The same applies to a student who does submit her/his reports in time, but does not pass.

ASSESSMENT

30 minutes’ individual oral examination. The student randomly draws 6 assignments from a basket containing all those discussed in seminars, and then selects 3 out of the 6 for examination.

New/postponed exam:

In case of failed exam or absence on legitimate grounds, the student can apply for a new or postponed exam. New/postponed exam is offered within a reasonable time span following the regular exam. The student is responsible for applying for a new/postponed exam as per the regulations set by OsloMet.

None.

A graded scale from A to E for passed, and F for not passed.

The target group of the course is international exchange students who are admitted to the study programmes at OsloMet for the current term.