Admission Requirements
Only CA-DS students who have completed all Academic Skills and Research Lab courses of the first and second year of the CA-DS bachelor programme can enrol in this course.
Course Description
In this course students apply their anthropological knowledge and skills to a real life consultancy case presented by a public service organization, thereby exploring ways to make an impact in society. Through a concrete, question driven research project students train 21st century skills and competences and reflect on their personal development and perspective on the future.
The course consists of two interconnected parts:
•Professional Impact: practicing professional skills. Working in a project team of up to five members, students conduct applied research for a public service organization. Based on a clear division of tasks and responsibilities, students translate the challenge provided by the organization into research questions, write a research proposal, conduct research, write a report and present their findings to their client. Students need to make use of their previously accumulated anthropological and academic skills and select literature that scientifically supports the content of their consultancy project.
- Personal Impact: Success of professional work originates in personal skills and development. Students assess their own competences and reflect on their role in the project team, their progress during the course and their personal and professional goals for the future.
Consultancy cases will be presented on Brightspace prior to the start of the course. Students can express their preferences for specific cases in the first online assessment, however, there are no guarantees for group compositions, as we need groups of students for every case.
Students work on their projects during the seminars as well as independently within the context of their team. All project activities are logged and monitored. Time is limited so students need to make sure it is used effectively.
5ECTS is equal to 140 study hours. Be aware that the 140 hours represent realistic hours of actual work: there are no shortcuts in this type of hands-on education.
NB The course is taught in Dutch. Course materials are partly presented in English in order to make them accessible to international students in other and future contexts. Written work and other tasks may be performed in Dutch.
Course Objectives
On successful completion of the course students will be able to:
Combine and align application of academic skills with personal and professional objectives.
Apply scientific knowledge to solve societal challenges.
Adequately perform the steps of a real-life consultancy case, namely:
- Critical assessment of a current societal challenge;
- Formulating a project proposal;
- Conducting an applied research project;
- Presenting research findings;
- Formulating applicable recommendations to the client.
Schedule
Dates and room numbers can be found on our website.
Mode of Instruction
Total 5 ECTS = 140 study hours (sbu):
Lectures, workshops and final meeting
Research and preparation for workshops, including assignments
Writing an individual reflection report
Writing the final group report and preparing the final presentation
Please note (!), as this course entails an applied research project, serious dedication and time management are a prerequisite to successfully complete this course.
Attendance is mandatory. Advance commitment is required to all scheduled times and dates. Absence will result in a lower participation grade or exclusion from the course.
Assessment Method
The assessment of Personal and Professional Impact will be a combination of your collective and individual achievements.
The final grade of the course is established through a weighted average of the grades given to the assignments and course participation. The weighted average should be 5.5 or higher with all final assignments not lower than a 5.5.
It is possible to redo failed final assignments.
Registration
Registration in uSis is obligatory for the lectures (H) for all participants. Please consult the course registration website for information on registration periods and further instructions.
Brightspace
All participants will be registered for this course on Brightspace. Please check if you are registered. If not, please contact OSC.
Brightspace will be used to communicate with students and to provide the necessary course documents. Turnitin will be used to submit assignments.
Study material
The course guide and readings will be made available through Brightspace.