UTVSD6000 Development Studies 2 Emneplan

The course description was approved by the Academic Affairs Committee 10 April 2014

and revised 30 November 2015. Minor change approved 20 November 2017

Revised September 2023

Reading List updated 20 November 2017

The course was established by the Dean 28 May 2014

OsloMet offers a one semester full-time course (30 ECTS credits) in development studies in Ghana. The course is a joint venture between OsloMet and Kulturstudier (Culture Studies), an independent Oslo-based organisation that offers international academic courses in the fields of culture and human development at study centres in Vietnam, India, Argentina and Latin America. OsloMet offers interdisciplinary courses in development issues and North-South relations, leading to a bachelor's degree of 180 ECTS credits in Development Studies. Students who complete Development Studies I and Development Studies II can apply to continue their studies and complete a bachelor's degree in Development Studies at OsloMet by taking courses worth 120 ECTS (the 2nd and 3rd year at the bachelor programme). Be aware that the 3rd and 6th semester in this bachelor programme are taught in Norwegian, while 4th and 5th semester can be offered in English.

The aim of Development Studies II is to combine a study of the academic and institutional literature with field study, taking an inductive approach where learning from the field experience is brought to the literature and informs theory, rather than a deductive approach that applies a particular theory to research data. Thus, the field study will become part of the course curriculum. In addition, there will be a programme of lectures around four core themes, taught through an interdisciplinary social science/humanistic approach incorporating elements of history, geography, social anthropology, political science, economics and sociology. The course activities (lectures, seminars, assignments, examination) as well as the literature are all in English.

The first part of the course is web-based. After this, the students leave for Ghana to attend 10 weeks of lectures, academic activities and field study. The final five weeks are again web-based.

No prerequisite knowledge required.

The overall objective for the course Development Studies II is to give students an interdisciplinary understanding of development with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa, the national and local experience in the context of wider regional and global influences.

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

Knowledge

The student:

• knows the application and experiences of various strategies of development

• has an understanding of and ability to apply concepts such as poverty, governance, inequality, power, human rights, culture, participation, empowerment, population and development research. An appreciation of the complex interaction between local, national, regional and global influences on development initiatives and outcomes
• has an overview of the political, economic, environmental and social aspects of development

Skills

The student:

• can carry out and present own research (an in-depth study within one of the above dimensions of development)
• can carry through a well-reflected problem-oriented analysis of development issues
• can critically collect data through own research and through other sources

General competence

The student:

• is able to provide problem-oriented explanations and use critical analysis in their work

The course combines self-study with a period of study in Ghana. The period of study in Ghana includes lectures, seminars, field trips, work in smaller groups, methodological preparations and project development for field study, etc.

The field study is the core of the course and is carried out in small groups. Theoretical and methodological knowledge will be deepened by designing their own of research project, collect data through interviews or other methods, and relate their own research to discussions in development studies. The seminar leader will help with the formation of groups and with local staff arrange for individual or group placements in organizations, villages or neighborhoods.

Students must have the following requirements approved before examination:

Before the home exam:

Introductory assignment - literature review (approved/not approved)

This is a paper of 1800 words (+/- 10 %) that is to be completed by the student during the first period of home study. Relevant literature is available online, through Leganto, and set books will be identified for students to purchase. For the assignment, students should write 2-3 pages on development in Africa based on the readings, and a further 2-3 pages on a theme covered in the reading list. Students will have the possibility to contact the seminar leader during this period.

The purpose of the assignment is to develop background knowledge in order to prepare for the time in Ghana, to begin the process of identifying a topic for field-study, and to show evidence of academic conventions (a supported argument with a range of sources that have been referenced). The paper is to be submitted before the start of the course in Ghana, and will be assessed as approved/not approved by the seminar leader during the first two weeks. A student who receives a 'not approved' is entitled to maximum two new attempts to fulfil the course requirement. A new deadline for the revised assignment will be made by the seminar leader in relation to each individual case.

Before the field study report exam:

Research diary (approved/not approved)

It is a requirement of the course that students keep a diary of their experiences in Ghana, which starts at arrival in Ghana, and with particular attention to the periods of fieldwork. The diary should include plans, methods and daily thoughts on the experience of doing research, by being reflective on the processes, successes and limitations. It could also include such things as interview questions, notes on focus groups, drafts of questionnaires, and links to ideas and debates in the literature. The guiding principle is that it is useful to the students as researchers as it will be an essential source when it comes to preparing the assignments. A requirement is that students write down some reflections each day during fieldwork, and the diary is assessed as approved/not approved by the seminar leader.

Oral presentation on field study findings (approved/not approved)

Oral presentation on field study findings (approved/not approved). This will take place during the last week in Ghana, when each group will present their field study. The focus is on the methodological experiences and empirical results of their fieldwork, but it should be related to ideas from the literature and issues and debates raised in the course. The purpose of the assignment is to consolidate the students' learning from both their own field study and the academic literature, assessing similarities and differences, and being aware of possible reasons for such comparisons. The format - an oral presentation - gives students experience in a useful skill, as well as providing a learning opportunity for other members of the course. The oral presentation will be of approx. 30 minutes, and is assessed as approved/not approved by the seminar leader.

Course work requirements must be met within fixed deadlines. Lectures and seminars are mandatory, due to field preparations and group activities. Students who, due to illness or other valid and documented reasons (such as a medical certificate), do not meet the work requirements within the fixed deadlines, may be given a new deadline, in each individual case given by the seminar leader. Students who, due to the same reasons, have less than 80% attendance at lectures and seminars, will by the seminar leader be given a written assignment of 2000 words (+/- 10 %) over a fixed topic and with a fixed deadline. Students who do not comply with this lose the right to take the final exam (i.e. submit their field study report).

Students will be assessed on the basis of a home exam and field study report which respectively count 40% and 60% of the final mark. Both exams must be passed in order to be awarded a final grade. If a student does not pass one of the exams, only the failed exam shall be re-taken. The Study Guide of the course will give details about deadlines defined by OsloMet.

Home exam (40 %)

An individual home exam of 3000 words +/- 10 %. This exam is based on the compulsory curriculum and will be held over 72 hours. This exam is marked (A-F) by one internal and one external examiner.

Field study report (60 %)

This is completed after the stay in Ghana when the students are again studying on their own. This is done individually, and each student writes a report on the basis of the field study done with the group. All data material collected during the fieldwork will be shared among the group members. The students will get online supervision for the writing of this report. The report must be between 6000 and 8000 words. The report is to be submitted electronically. This examination is given a mark (A-F) by one internal and one external examiner.

The students' academic performance is based on the two assessments presented above, and students will be awarded a composite grade based on the marks and the percentage for each exam.

New or postponed examination

In case of failed exam/legal absence, the student can have a new individual home exam under the same conditions when a new/postponed exam is arranged. A student who fail his/her individual field study report, or who pass but wish to improve the grade, may submit a revised version. The deadline for this coincides with the deadline for general evaluation the following term.

Examination support material is permitted.

OsloMet - storbyuniversitetet har inngått en avtale med Utdanningsdirektoratet om samarbeid om nasjonal lederutdanning for styrere i barnehager, heretter kalt styrerutdanningen. Styrerutdanningen gjennomføres i samarbeid med Høgskolen i Innlandet og Stiftelsen IMTEC (International Movement Towards Educational Change).

Overordnet mål for studieprogrammet er at studentene skal utvikle seg som ledere til å bli bedre yrkesutøvere av styrerrollen innenfor fagområdet utdanningsledelse. De skal tilegne seg kritisk innsikt i egen yrkesrolle og egen praksis, økt forståelse for barnehagens formål og samfunnsmandat og styrke sin kompetanse og ferdigheter når det gjelder barnehagens rammebetingelser, virkemidler og arbeidsformer.

Styrerutdanningen er en videreutdanning. Studiet er samlingsbasert og organisert som en deltidsutdanning over tre semester. Det er 2-4 samlinger per semester, og hver samling er over 2 dager.

På OsloMet - storbyuniversitetet og Høgskolen i Innlandet kan styrerutdanningen inngå som del av følgende masterstudier som tilbys ved disse institusjonene: masterstudiet i offentlig ledelse og styring, masterstudiet i tilpasset opplæring, masterstudiet i utdanningsledelse (Høgskolen i Innlandet), masterstudiet i barnehagepedagogikk med fordypning i barnehageledelse, og masterstudiet i styring og ledelse (OsloMet). Interesserte som ønsker at emnet skal kunne inngå som del av ett av disse masterstudiene må søke om opptak til det aktuelle masterstudiet på ordinær måte, basert på de opptakskrav som gjelder for det enkelte masterstudium (inkludert karakterkrav). Det vil deretter kunne søkes om fritak for deler av det aktuelle masterstudiet på grunnlag av det gjennomførte og beståtte emnet. Det er opp til den institusjonen som tilbyr masterstudiet å vurdere og fatte vedtak om eventuelt fritak. Søknad om fritak vurderes på individuell basis.

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