Intercultural practices (MSO290)

International migration and the welfare gap, contributes to new challenges and demands for citizens and social and welfare workers more specifically. A transnational framework captures the cultural diversity in a globalized world. This course emphasizes cultural diversity within welfare systems and intercultural practices within different areas including family relations with multiple societies across borders; global and regional discourses of children and childhoods; civil society organisationsand their collaboration with the public sector and frontline discretion in contextualized inclusion and activation work. The course will emphasize how these different practices are socially, culturally, and historically constructed. The course will aim at strengthen UN Sustainability goals and especially number 5: Gender Equality, 10: Reduced inequalities and 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions.

The lectures are given in English. It is possible to write the home exam in either English or Norwegian.


Course description for study year 2024-2025. Please note that changes may occur.

Facts

Course code

MSO290

Version

1

Credits (ECTS)

10

Semester tution start

Autumn

Number of semesters

1

Exam semester

Autumn

Language of instruction

English

Offered by
Time table

View course schedule

Content

This course seeks to improve the students' understanding of intercultural practices and policies in diverse welfare contexts. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to analyze and critically evaluate different dimensions of intercultural practice within the following four main areas: 1) cultural diversity, 2) transnational families and children, 3) civil society and nongovernmental services and their collaboration with the public sector and 4) activation in frontline work. Students will have the opportunity to work collaboratively and engaging with peers from different cultural, disciplinary, and professional backgrounds to address real-world intercultural practices in diverse contexts.

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of intercultural practices, including their theoretical foundations and practical applications in diverse cultural contexts.
  • Understand the complexities within cultural diversity and transnationalism, and how these factors influence intercultural practices and policies.
  • Acquire knowledge of various welfare areas and their intersections with cultural diversity, such as family relations across borders, global discourses of children and childhood, and civil society services.
  • Gain an understanding of the role of civil society organizations in strengthening and innovating intercultural practices, and developing collaborative partnerships with the public sector

Skills:

  • Describe and analyze complexities within cultural diversity, including differences and similarities across various welfare areas.

  • Participate effectively in dialogues across transnational contexts, demonstrating the ability to engage in respectful and constructive communication with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds.

  • Develop communication skills through participation in an international classroom environment, including active listening, intercultural communication, and collaboration with peers from different cultural backgrounds.

Competences:

  • To participate in dialogue with various welfare actors to improve awareness and respect for diversity
  • Development of reflective processes on how personal beliefs, values and knowledge influences welfare practices
  • To develop critical reflections on own learning processes
  • Academic writing

Required prerequisite knowledge

None

Exam

Form of assessment Weight Duration Marks Aid
Home exam 1/1 1 Weeks Letter grades All

The exam is a semester exam, which consist of three tasks, which will be handed out in the beginning of the semester. Total word count: 3000 words (+/- 10 %) excluding table of contents, notes, references and bibliography. Reference style: APA 7th. Resit and deferred examinations: Students who do not get a pass mark after resit and deferred examination must re-take the course with the next cohort.

Coursework requirements

Mandatory registrered presence
Presence is mandatory (MP) in parts of the course programme (i.e. field visits, seminars and other marked with MP in the lecture plan). Mandatory requirements: 75% presence. If students do not fulfill the MP requirement, students will have to pass an assignment given by the course coordinators in order to take the course exam.

Course teacher(s)

Course coordinator:

Aleksandar Bozic

Study Program Director:

Brita Gjerstad

Method of work

Lectures, seminars, group work and individual work adapted to different modes of study. All students are expected to read the syllabus and participate in group discussions and thereby develop analytical reflections in a productive environment with fellow students. The students will also go on field visits to different social service institutions

Open for

All students. Open to students at the University of Stavanger, international students and external candidates who has completed a bachelor’s degree in social sciences or humanities.

Course assessment

There must be an early dialogue between the course supervisor, the student union representative and the students. The purpose is feedback from the students for changes and adjustments in the course for the current semester.In addition, a digital subject evaluation must be carried out at least every three years. Its purpose is to gather the students experiences with the course.

Literature

The syllabus can be found in Leganto