Reason and Engage. Critical Reflections on Humanity and Society

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

Taught in

Dutch

Faculty

Faculty of Languages & Humanities

Department

History, Archaeology, Arts, Philosophy and Ethics

Educational team

Jo Renate Bauwens
Bieke Abelshausen
Lisa Ahenkona
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.

‘Reason and Engage’ is based on the principle of community engaged research & learning (CERL). Students work in a multidisciplinary team on a project. The project describes a societal challenge in line with the overall theme. The annual theme is discussed from various disciplines.

Students are provided with up-to-date academic information through the public activities along which the course is built: a series of cross disciplinary lectures, debates and workshops, in which academics, researchers, professionals and active citizens elaborate on the topic from a specific perspective and/or academic domain. These activities take place on diverse locations in Brussels and are open to the general public.

Seminars take place in between the public activities. Students are supported by the student counselors for the research project, in particular the processing of information provided and collected.

‘Reason and Engage’ closes with an event where final findings and recommendations are presented to a broad public (the education team, non-profit organizations and peers).

The course ‘Reason and Engage’ extends over the entire academic year. All contact moments take place on Tuesdays from 18h till 20h. Students’ presence is required, absences are noted.

The concrete planning is subject to the dates of the public events. Timing of the public events (lectures and workshops) might change in order to meet the availability of the invitees. A more detailed and yearly adapted content description (speakers, themes, locations, etc.) is made available on Canvas.

Course and contact moments (lectures and workshops) will be organized in real life on campus as much as possible. If circumstances (exceptional measures as a result of Covid-19) do not allow real life meetings on campus, online alternatives (synchronous and asynchronous) will be provided.

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) : Handboek over het centraal thema

Additional info

ATTENTION: Enrollment for 'Redelijk Eigenzinnig. Nadenken over Mens en Maatschappij' is only possible after confirmation by the study track supervisors.

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

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

Personal learning goals

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

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:

procesevaluatie with a relative weight of 100 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

Note: Ter voorbereiding van het projectwerk dienen de studenten een projectfiche in. Deze bevat een korte beschrijving van de behandelde problematiek, een centrale vraagstelling, een samenvatting van de informatie die tijdens het verkennend bronnenonderzoek werd verwerkt, een overzicht van de leerdoelen voor het diepteonderzoek, een beschrijving van de gehanteerde (onderzoeks)methode en afspraken in verband met tussentijdse rapportage en uitwisseling.

Richtlijnen hierbij zijn:
o verwijzen naar kwaliteitsvol bronnenmateriaal en interactie met maatschappelijke actoren
o blijk geven van kennis en begrip van de gehanteerde concepten
o een relevante kwestie behandelen
o alle teamleden nemen verantwoordelijkheid voor het project, taken zijn evenwichtig verdeeld

Aan het eind van het academiejaar dienen de studenten een eindrapport in .Dit eindrapport wordt mondeling toegelicht tijdens een presentatiemoment (online of via fysieke bijeenkomst, al naargelang de omstandigheden).

Richtlijnen hierbij zijn:
o verwijzen naar kwaliteitsvol bronnenmateriaal en interactie met maatschappelijke actoren
o verschillende perspectieven integreren
o (systematisch) gebruik maken van wetenschappelijke theorieën, modellen en samenhangende interpretaties
o blijk geven van kennis en begrip van de gehanteerde concepten
o een onderbouwd standpunt uitwerken ten aanzien van de geformuleerde probleemstelling
o innovatieve / creatieve denkpistes aanreiken ten aanzien van de behandelde thematiek
o verwijzen naar persoonlijke verantwoordelijkheid en ervaring

Alle studenten leveren kwaliteitsvolle bijdragen aan het projectwerk. Concrete taakverdeling en opdrachten worden tijdens de werkcolleges opgesteld met de studenten. Minimaal worden twee individuele bijdragen (1ste en 2de semester) ingediend in vorm die de studenten zelf mogen bepalen: bv. Opiniestuk; essay; ‘long read’…. Deze bijdragen kunnen gepubliceerd worden op de website van ‘Redelijk Eigenzinnig’ of VUB-pagina.. Deze bijdragen zijn geïnspireerd op de lezingen en geschreven voor een breder publiek.

Meer gedetailleerde richtlijnen worden meegegeven in de studentenhandleiding, beschikbaar op 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 during counselling. Product evaluation concerns the quality of tasks fulfilled and handed in.

The student counselors use an evaluation sheet (see student manual). The evaluations are combined in a global rating: 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’. If it becomes clear from the mid-term peer evaluations and permanent evaluation of the teaching team that a student does not show the expected commitment and participation, an individual remedial trajectory can be imposed.

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

Studiedeelopdrachten:

Students work out an assignment(s) according to the principle of Community Engaged Research & Learning (CERL). Students work in a multidisciplinary team on a concrete societal challenge within the annual theme that can be approached from different disciplines. Students work out an individual assignment that contributes to the societal debate and the social impact. At the end of the academic year the research project is presented on a presentation moment (online or physical gathering, depending on the circumstances).

More detailed guidelines are available in the student manual 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