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 caregivers by conducting a comparative study in a transnational and multidisciplinary project group.

The Crossing Borders module has two substantive purposes: first, to study people's situations in unfavourable social conditions, and second, to compare ways to improve their participation in society. The dual purpose bears the most weight because enlarged self-determination may help reduce people's alleged deviancies.

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

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

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

The module is a Blended Intensive Program in which students participate in an Erasmus Blended Intensive Programmes (BIP) funding program.BIP is a new type of short and intensive mobility provided by the new Erasmus+ 2021-2027 programme. Using innovative learning and teaching methods, it affords an internationalization experience that combines short physical mobility with a mandatory virtual one. In this course, the compulsory physical mobility lasts one week, and virtual lecturing and interdisciplinary group work lasts eight weeks (meeting once weekly).

Admission is limited.

Learning Outcome

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

Knowledge: The candidate...

• has a broad knowledge of multidisciplinary professional work in their own country
• is familiar with essential topics and theories regarding the 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 their 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 their educational 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 following 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

All subjects in the first year and third semester (VPL200 and VPL210) and BSVCBE1 General part

Teaching methods

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

Videoconferences are an essential means of communication in the weeks leading up to the intensive week.

Next to videoconferencing, the students can choose other means of communication.

Compulsory learning activities

The following compulsory work requirements 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

The 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, and grade F is a fail.

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

Examination support material

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