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.
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.
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.
Knowledge and insight
Skills
Attitudes
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:
Within the SELF Paper category, the following assignments need to be completed:
The course is evaluated on the basis of two assessments
To pass all the different assessments have to be fulfilled.
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)