Course

Read about the Master Programme and find the Study Regulations at ruc.dk

You register for activities through stads selvbetjening during the announced registration period, which you can see on the Study administration homepage.

When registering for courses, please be aware of the potential conflicts and overlaps between course and exam time and dates. The planning of course activities at Roskilde University is based on the recommended study programmes, which should not overlap. However, if you choose optional courses and/or study plans that goes beyond the recommended study programmes, an overlap of lectures or exam dates may occur depending on which courses you choose.

A specialisation course aims to allow students to immerse themselves in the theories/theory lines and empirical issues pertaining to a particular subject area. The course equips students to competently select and argue for the applicability and relevance of a theory/theory line to given issues. The courses offered are based on the Institute's research in the field and knowledge of the highest international standard. The specific subject area of the courses will be described in the activity description.

Current Global and Development Challenges and Solutions addresses various global and development challenges, such as conflicts, questions of justice, inequality, sustainability, and effects for instance on states, markets and civil society.

Young people today are more connected than ever before through modern technology and via social media. Some argue they constitute a global generation, especially since young people all over the world have shown the ability and desire to engage in global challenges through for example Model UNs, hashtag campaigns and school strikes. Youth are thereby seen to have the potential of becoming global agents of change. Yet, while life online can be accessed and experienced in similar fashion around the world, lived life presents acute and glaring social and economic differences and inequalities. This course will look at contemporary youth engagement in facilitating global and local change focusing on engagement both from the Global North and the Global South.

Students will be familiarized with different theoretical debates and cases relevant to the study of youth as agents of change. Students will also acquire the skills to apply these theories to critically contextualize and assess the discourses that emphasize globality and equal partnerships, yet operate in a highly unequal world. Further they will develop an understanding of the significance of this discrepancy and how it influences the way youth world over can, and choose to, engage in solving worldwide, as well as local, challenges, including climate change, inequality, sustainability, authoritarianism and human rights.

Learning Outcomes:

• Students will acquire state-of-the-art knowledge and skills regarding the study of youth as agents of global and local change.

• They will develop an understanding of different theoretical debates concerning the study of youth and youth engagement with worldwide challenges pertaining to sustainability, development and inequality – including their social, environmental, economic, political and spatial dimensions.

• They will acquire an advanced understanding of different theoretical debates related to these subjects and will develop skills in selecting and critically applying relevant theories and methods, including in choosing approaches relevant to investigating a problem area. They will also develop skills in communicating and discussing theories and empirical results.

The course syllabus consists of journal articles, monographs, book chapters, and other case materials. All materials are available through https://soeg.kb.dk or will be made available on the course Moodle site.

10 ECTS x 27 hours = 270:

Participation in classes 12 x 2 = 24 hours

Excursion = 8 hours

Preparation = 156 hours

Exam preparation and exam = 82 hours

This course will be evaluated twice: a mid-term evaluation and a final evaluation. Both evaluations will take place in class and last approximately 10 mins.

12 sessions and 1 excursion.

• Be able to explain and evaluate, using relevant terminology, the advantages and disadvantages of various theories/theory lines within the aspect of a subject area that is dealt with in the specialisation course

• Be able to confidently and independently evaluate, select and apply relevant theories in relation to an issue

• Be able to reflect critically on the relevance of the topic to the subject matter of the course

• Carry out analyses on a scientific basis and deal in a creative and solution-oriented manner with central issues within the course theme

• Communicate knowledge in language that is technically precise, well-structured and well-argued.

Examination and assessment criteria: The oral exam will take point of departure in a monograph read by the students (as part of the course curriculum). The student will be asked to relate the monograph to the course content and curriculum. The assessment criteria include whether the student convincingly can:

• Explain, using relevant terminology, various theories and conceptual approaches concerning the study of youth as agents of global and local change
• Confidently and independently evaluate, select and apply relevant theories and perspectives in relation to cases of youth engagement with worldwide challenges
• Analyse and reflect critically on the different perspectives and themes taken up in the course
• Communicate knowledge in language that is technically precise, well-structured and well-argued