6 ECTS credits
154 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1019924CNR for all students in the 1st and 2nd semester at a (C) Bachelor - specialised level.

Semester
1st and 2nd semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Pass/Non pass
Can retake in second session
No
Taught in
Dutch
Faculty
Faculty of Languages & Humanities
Department
History, Archaeology, Arts, Philosophy and Ethics
Educational team
Jo Renate Bauwens
Bieke Abelshausen
Yano Truyers
Karl Verstrynge (course titular)
Activities and contact hours

8 contact hours Lecture
38 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
44 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

‘Reason and Engage’ is an interdisciplinary course that puts into practice the VUB’s vision on society and education. Evidence-based education, free research, co-creation, sustainability and civic engagement are the VUB’s core values. Based on these pillars, ‘Reason and Engage’ wants to stimulate critical reflection on some of the most urgent and challenging issues of our times. The course focuses on one overarching and thought-provoking topic each year. Hereby, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) serve as framework.

Course material
Course text (Required) : Werkboek PROJECT en SKILLS - Inleidende teksten en ander bronnenmateriaal met betrekking tot de thema’s die aan bod komen
Digital course material (Required) : Digitaal cursusmateriaal: slides en video-opnames van de lezingen
Practical course material (Required) : Thematic reader
Additional info

The language of instruction is Dutch. Invitation of English lecturers is possible.

 

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

Academic learning goals

- The students distinguish, know and respect different academic perspectives concerning the overarching theme

- The students reflect critically on the arguments presented in the lectures, debates and scientific literature concerning the topics discussed

- The students can formulate their ideas and opinions with respect to the topics discussed

- The students can collect scientific arguments to strengthen their opinion

- The students can cooperate in an interdisciplinary group

- Students are competent to conduct science-based research in line with societal challenges

 

Civic learning goals

- The students have insight in the civic actors concerned with the central topic

- The students have insight in the needs of a diversity of actors concerned with the central topic

- The students can formulate evidence-based opinions and ideas and opinions, related to a societal challenge

- The students can share their findings with a broader public

 

Personal learning goals

- The students relate the acquired knowledge to their own study-expertise and -environment

- The students distinguish different forms of personal engagement concerning the central topic

- The students reflect systematically on their own thoughts and behavior related to the multidisciplinary teamwork and include feedback of others in this reflection

- The students do formulate relevant learning goals and tasks, related to the multidisciplinary teamwork

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Other Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Process evaluation with a relative weight of 100 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

    Note: In order to prepare the community learning-project (CSL) the students hand in a project proposal. This contains a short description and of the problems dealt with, a central question, a summary of the information that was processed during the exploratory survey, an overview of the learning objectives for the in-depth study, a description of the applied (research) method and agreements with respect to contact moments and reporting.

    Guidelines:
    o Referring to qualitative sources and interaction with social actors
    o Demonstrating knowledge and understanding of the concepts used
    o Deals with a relevant issue
    o All team members take responsibility for the project, tasks are evenly distributed

    At the end of the academic year, each team hands in a report. The team’s initial goals, working method and findings are presented on a presentation moment.

    Guidelines:
    o Referring to qualitative sources and interaction with social actors
    o Integration of diverse perspectives
    o Referring to scientific and professional expertise
    o Demonstrating knowledge and understanding of the concepts used
    o Comprising a reasoned opinion
    o Offering innovative/creative insights concerning the topic
    o Referring to personal responsibility and experiences

    All students contribute to the teamwork. Assignments and tasks are drawn up with the students during the colleges.

    At least one individual contribution is submitted as an opinion piece. The blog post is a personal reflection on the subject that can be published on the website of 'Reason and Engage' on the VUB-webpage.

    More detailed guidelines are available in the student manual on Canvas.

Additional info regarding evaluation

The evaluation procedure for ‘Reason and Engage’ follows the pass/fail-principle. The evaluation implies both process and product evaluation. Process evaluation concerns the preparation on and individual contributions to lectures, group work, attendance and active participation in workshops and teamwork.  Product evaluation concerns the quality of tasks fulfilled and handed in.

The student monitors use an evaluation card (see student manual). Students are expected to evolve in the different components of the student evaluation throughout the academic year. The evaluations are combined in a global ratting: pass or fail. There are thus no ‘marks’. The evaluation of ‘Reason and Engage’ does not influence grading. There is no re-examination for ‘Reason and Engage’.

The evaluation procedure is also described in detail in the student manual available on Canvas.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Adult Education: Profile Social Studies (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Adult Education: Profile Cultural Studies (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Adult Education: Abridged Profile Social Studies (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Adult Education: Abridged Profile Cultural Studies (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Adult Education: Profile Education Studies (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Adult Education: Abridged Profile Education Studies (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Philosophy and Moral Sciences: default (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Physical Education and Movement Sciences: default (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Physical Education and Movement Sciences: Abridged Traject after Training Professional Bachelor Education: Secundary Education with Option LO (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Physical Education and Movement Sciences: Verkort traject na vooropleiding (Revalidatiewetenschappen en) Kinesitherapie (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Physical Education and Movement Sciences: topsport (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Educational Sciences: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Psychology: Afstudeerrichting arbeids- en organisatiepsychologie (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Adult Education: Profile Cultural Studies (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Adult Education: Profile Social Studies (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Criminology: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Communication Studies: Media, Internet and Globalisation (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Communication Studies: Media and Culture (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Communication Studies: Media, Journalism and Politics (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Communication Studies: Media, Strategic Communications & Marketing (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Sociology: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Political Science: Democracy and Leadership (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Business Engineering: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Business Economics: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Mathematics: Fundamental Mathematics (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Profile Literary Studies - 1 language (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Profile Linguistics - 1 language (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Profile Literary Studies - 2 languages (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Profile Linguistics - 2 languages (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Linguistics and Literary Studies: profile Intermediality - 1 language (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Linguistics and Literary Studies: profile Intermediality - 2 languages (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Linguistics and Literary Studies: profile Neurolinguistics and Psycholinguistics - 1 language (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Linguistics and Literary Studies: profile Neurolinguistics and Psycholinguistics - 2 languages (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Educational Sciences: Standaard traject
Master of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Profile Literary Studies 1 Language
Master of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Profile Literary Studies 2 Languages
Master of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Profile Linguistics 1 Language
Master of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Profile Linguistics 2 Languages
Master of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Profile Psycholinguistics and Neurolinguistics 1 Language
Master of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Profile Psycholinguistics and Neurolinguistics 2 Languages
Master of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Profile Multilingualism and Foreign Language Acquisition 1 Language
Master of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Profile Multilingualism and Foreign Language Acquisition 2 Languages
Master of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Profile Intermediality - 1 language
Master of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Profile Intermediality - 2 languages
Bridging Programme for Master of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy: Default track (only offered in Dutch)
Preparatory Programme Master of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy: Default track (only offered in Dutch)