BSVCBE2 Crossing Borders - Ways to improve Participation

Contents and structure

Crossing Borders - Ways to Improve Participation is an international learning and teaching module offered to health- and social work students from Alkmaar and Haarlem (The Netherlands): Inholland University of Applied Sciences, Bergen (Norway): Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bristol (United Kingdom): University of the West of England, Brussels (Belgium): Odisee University of Applied Sciences (in cooperation with Erasmus University College Brussels), Machias (USA): University of Maine at Machias and Mittweida (Germany): Mittweida University of Applied Sciences.

Students participating in Crossing Borders increase their substantive competencies as social educators, social workers or social caregivers through working out a comparative study in a transnational and multidisciplinary project group.  

The Crossing Borders module has a twofold substantive purpose. First: to study situations of people in unfavourable social conditions. Second: to compare ways to improve these people’s participation in society. The second purpose bears most weight because enlarged self-determination may help to reduce peoples alleged deviancies.

Apart from the knowledge involved in Ways to Improve Participation, students participating will expand their communication, presentation and research skills in English as each group contains members from different countries.

This module starts with students working though weekly (six to eight) Video Conferences (VC) and ends with an Intensive Week (IW) in Alkmaar, Inholland University of Applied Science where students, mentors and professors from participating Universities meets to work together.

By participating in this module where increased communication, presentation and research skills are much focused it will give future care givers knowledge to justify the work in front of a professional forum. These skills will also help future professionals to explain in public what the caring professions contribute to society. Furthermore, as the participants abilities to cooperate internationally are developed by Crossing Borders the module it will help future care givers to cross boundaries in many ways.

Admission are limited.

Learning Outcome

A candidate who has completed his or her qualification should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence: 

Knowledge:

The candidate...

• has broad knowledge of multidisciplinary professional work in own country
• is familiar with important topics and theories in regards of effects of empowerment, diversity, primary and secondary deviance, stigma, and discrimination 
• is familiar with different processes, tools and methods for promoting participation and inclusion, and for preventing discrimination 
• is familiar with research and development work in the field 
• can update his/her knowledge in the field of social work

Skills:

The candidate...

• can apply academic knowledge and relevant results of research and make well-founded choices in a transnational environment 
• can reflect upon his/her own academic practice and adjust it under supervision
• can find, evaluate and refer to information and scholarly subject matter and present it in a manner that sheds light on the problem

General competence:

The candidate....

• can plan and carry out projects over time as part of a group in accordance with ethical requirements and principles
• can communicate important academic subject matters such as theories, problems and solutions, both in writing and orally in English
• can exchange opinions and experiences with others with a background in the field, thereby contributing to the development of good practice in a transnational group in English

Entry requirements

Passed BSVCBE 1 General part

Teaching methods

Crossing Borders involves a variety of activities. Participants works weekly in a transnational group  thorugh videoconferences. Further, students finds and read relevant theory, collect elevant data through field visits and interviews which they presen in the transnational group. Students give oral presentations and through the  weekly video videoconferences they work process oriented towards a written paper. 

The videoconferences are an important means of communication in the weeks leading up to the intensive week.

Next to the videoconferences other means of communication can be use chosen by the students.

Compulsory learning activities

The following compulsory work requirement must be approved for students to take the exam:

1. Moderate (minimum) one VC group session
2. Participate in the intensive week
3. Participate in the group oral presentation

Approved work requirement is valid for two semesters. 

Assessment

Assessment

Written group assignment of 6000 words (+/- 10%). 

Grading system The grading scale used is A to F. Grade A is the highest passing grade in the grading scale, grade F is a fail.

New exam Students who have failed a regular examination are entitled to hand in a re-edited article for new evaluation.

Examination support material

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