6 ECTS credits
150 h study time

Offer 2 with catalog number 4021684ENW for working students in the 1st semester at a (E) Master - advanced level.

Semester
1st semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Enrollment Requirements
Studenten die dit opleidingsonderdeel opnemen, zijn geslaagd voor 'Penologie en penitentiair recht' en bij voorkeur ingeschreven voor het profiel 'Penologie'. Inschrijven voor dit opleidingsonderdeel is enkel mogelijk voor werkstudenten. Dagstudenten kunnen enkel registreren voor opleidingsonderdelen waarvan de code eindigt met een R.
Taught in
Dutch
Faculty
Faculty of Law and Criminology
Department
Faculty of Law and Criminology
Educational team
Sofie De Bus
An-Sofie Vanhouche (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
12 contact hours Lecture
24 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
88 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

The course ‘Learning together in detention’ teaches penology to master students in criminology and prisoners. Both groups of students are treated as one student group and the aim is to study the same subjects in group in prison. The students will get a fuller insight in the penological field trough intensive contact with penological practices and the students will actively contribute to the understanding of the subject in contact with the setting being studied.

In terms of content, the course focuses on various aspects of the deprivation of liberty (detention harm, objectives of the deprivation of liberty, prisoners’ rights, reintegration and preparation of return to society, prison architecture, etc.). This will be done through discussions with priosoners, teachers and guest speakers (experts from the field) on penal subjects and practices. The classes (theory) will be taught via activating methods, and the seminars will mainly consist of further elaborating, translating and rehearsing the subjects in group. The aim is to enhance the critical thinking of both student groups and to develop a research attitude, that not only focusses on the reproduction of knowledge but also questions and analyses daily penal practices, the implementation of the regulatory framework and the consequences of detention for society.

Additional info

This course is taught in the prison of Beveren. Travel cost are at the expenses of the students.

Due to the interactive and intensive nature of the course, it is organized into eight modules of 3 hours. The student's attendance is compulsory. A detailed course schedule is provided via the learning platform Canvas.

A maximum of 12 VUB students are allowed. Students wishing to enroll for the course must write a motivation letter before 2 September 2021 to the course holder Students are invited for an interview where their motivation is further assessed. Since each individual student must be given access to the prison, any candidate student will also be subjected to a screening by the Prison Service.

In this course we pay additional attention to deontology in prison. The participating students have to agree and follow specific regulations and agreements. Beforehand, each participant signs a contract to declare his/her agreement. This is obligatory.

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

Knowledge and insight

  • The student has an in depth insight into the complex reality of detention from theoretical and scientific models (detention harm, prison as a total institution, importation / deprivation theories, objectives and legal status of prisoners, prison architecture, reintegration) supplemented and substantiated by contact with the penal field .
  • The student can apply these penological thinking and reference frameworks in the penal practice.
  • The student analyzes the daily penal practice, the implementation of the regulatory framework and the consequences of detention based on national and international research in interaction with detention practice.
  • The student can analyze, contextualize and synthesize the presented penological texts and to test these to the detention practice.

Skills

  • The student participates actively during the contact sessions and illustrates strong social skills during the discussion and group assignments.
  • The student can actively process the learning content in contact with the setting being studied.
  • The student can take a scientifically substantiated social viewpoint and communicate this in writing and verbally.
  • The student can reflect on his /her own learning process.

Attitudes

  • The student is eager to learn, empathetic, and willing to engage and learn from the other students participating in the course.
  • The student possesses a keen interest and sensitivity to the realities of detention.
  • The student is empathetic and respectful for fellow students and (guest) teachers who may not be part of their own life context.
  • The student has integrity.
  • The student respects prearranged deontological agreements.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
SELF Practical Assignment determines 60% of the final mark.
SELF Paper determines 40% of the final mark.

Within the SELF Practical Assignment category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • SELF Assignment with a relative weight of 60 which comprises 60% of the final mark.

Within the SELF Paper category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • SELF Paper with a relative weight of 40 which comprises 40% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

The course is evaluated on the basis of two assessments

  • Portfolio with all the individual and group assessments for 60% of the total final mark. For a detailed overview of tasks and expectations, see the information bundle at CANVAS.
  • Individual paper assignment for 40% of the total final grade. For a detailed overview of tasks and expectations, see the information bundle at CANVAS.

To pass all the different assessments have to be fulfilled.

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:
Master of Criminology: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Social Sciences: criminologische wetenschappen (90 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)