UTVB2300 Økonomi og bærekraft Emneplan

The course description was approved 07.04.2011 by the Academic Affairs Committee, Faculty of Education and International Studies, and revised 23.05.2013. Minor changes 24.05.2018.

The Faculty of Education and International Studies at Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences (HiOA) offers interdisciplinary courses in development studies and North-South relations, leading to a Bacherlor's degree in Development Studies of 180 ECTS credits. The course Economy and Sustainability is at the intermediate level and represents a 10 ECTS credits module in the 5th semester of the bachelor programme.

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.

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.

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

Knowledge

The student

• has knowledge of alternative theories and models
• has knowledge of how these theories have manifested themselves in the organization of societies and communities at different geographical levels
• has knowledge of central debates about these different theories

Skills

The student

• can expose myths about today's main economic system
• is able to analyze different aspects of alternative economic systems regarding livelihoods, environmental impact and distribution of resources
• is able to understand the different alternatives in a historic framework

General competence

The student

• can reflect critically about different alternatives
• is able to find relevant literature and give presentations based on this literature

There will be lectures and teacher-led seminars. Students are expected to participate actively in group work and discussions during seminars.

• Lectures on the curriculum
• Prepared plenary presentations by the students
• Discussions based on issues raised by lectures, curriculum and the individual presentations

In order to be admitted to the examination the student shall fulfil the following course work requirements:

• A plenary presentation of around ten minutes, where students individually present an alternative economic theory or give a presentation of "alternative" communities/societies/activities to be discussed afterwards, and a written paper of 1500-2000 words with a list of literature based on this presentation. The theme of the presentation can be free of choice or chosen from a given list. The purpose is to ensure that students engage properly, critically reflect on the topic of the presentation and share insights and reflections with each other
• Attendance of at least 70 % of lectures and seminars

The attendance requirement reflects that self-study cannot substitute for the imparting of knowledge and learning promoted by class-room activity as they give the students the opportunity to verbalize, analyze and discuss key issues of the course. Students who fail the attendance requirement will have to submit a written paper of 2000 words +/- 10 % on a title given by the teacher. Students attending less than 50 % of lectures/seminars automatically forfeit the right to sit exam.

The presentation with paper shall be submitted within the set deadline. It is evaluated with ¿accepted¿ or ¿not accepted¿. Students who get ¿not accepted¿ may rewrite and submit a new paper. The student shall contact the teacher to get a new deadline. Students who do not meet the listed course work requirements and have not documented valid reason will not be admitted to the examination.

The assessment will be based on a 72-hour home exam, a written assignment of 4000 words +/-10 % on a given topic.

New/postponed exam

In case of failed exam or legal absence, the student can apply for a new or postponed exam. 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 HiOA. Regulations for new or postponed examinations are available in Regulations relating to studies and examinations at Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences.

This course covers key theoretical and ethical issues in health science research. A presentation is also given of the key methods in the design of qualitative and quantitative research and of mixed methods research. The course also covers different types of strategy for qualitative and quantitative analysis. The course contributes to critical thinking about methodological issues and gives a broad methodological basis for assessing research strategies in the candidate's own project. Emphasis is also placed on how research problems, choice of design, challenges regarding measurements, use of statistical models, and qualitative analysis models are evaluated. Legislation and systems governing the control and supervision of health research and data protection are other topics covered in the course.

None

The assignment will be assessed by one internal and one external examiner.