MBIB4240 Institutions Promoting Information and Culture Course description

This course adopts a sociological perspective, with a specific focus on archives, libraries, and museums, examining the emergence of the information-disseminating profession, institutionalization, and roles.

The language of instruction for the course is both Norwegian and English.

None.

This course deals with central theoretical and methodological issues relating to power and inequality in developing countries.

No prerequisite knowledge required.

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

Knowledge

The student:

• has thorough knowledge of important theoretical and empirical issues linked to inequality and power in the Global South.
• has advanced research-based knowledge of global inequality and poverty.

Skills

The student:

• is capable of explaining how theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches influence findings on the relationships between power and inequality in the Global South.
• is capable of comparing and critically assessing theories and methods applied to studies of power and inequality.
• is capable of analysing existing theories and perspectives with respect to connections between power and distribution in the Global South.

General competence

The student:

• is capable of transferring and adapting research questions and approaches from the analysis of power and distribution in developing regions to other geographical areas, including Norway and other OECD countries.
• is capable of assessing, applying and disseminating new knowledge and academic perspectives related to the study of inequality and power.

The following required coursework must be approved before the student can take the exam:

• The student must give a presentation lasting 15-30 minutes (individually or as part of a group) of an article, chapter in a book etc. at a plenary session during the course.
• Students must individually submit a 1-page / approx. 450-word preliminary description of their master’s thesis research topic.
• 80 % attendance requirement (see the programme description for more information).

The purpose of the coursework requirement is to ensure all students’ begin the work of articulating their master’s research topic, to receive feedback about it, and to support the future preparation of full research project.

The purpose of the oral presentation is to encourage students to engage in more oral activity and improve their oral presentation skills, and to present the academic content to a live audience in an organised and effective manner. The oral presentation is intended to help the student to acquire the skills specified in the learning outcomes for the course.

Studenetene skal få innsikt i og kunnskaper om dagens miljøsituasjon samt kunne se framtidige utfordringer, og derved aktivt bidra til miljøomstillinger ved egen bedrift, organisasjon og nærmiljø.

Studenten må være tatt opp på studiet.

Letter grades ranging from A to F are used, with A being the highest grade and E the poorest pass grade, and F being a fail grade.

Studiet består av 1,5 uker institusjonell undervisning og 6 mnd. egenstudier på deltid. Undervisningen vil bl.a bygge på studentenes erfaringer, og variere mellom forelesninger, diskusjoner, ekskursjon og gruppearbeid omkring de aktuelle temaene. Gruppearbeidet vil også være relatert til egenstudiets innsendingsoppgaver. For de som har lese-og skrivevansker vil AOF Norge legge tilrette og bistå med hjelpemidler for å avhjelpe dette.