Admission requirements
This course is an (extracurricular) Honours Class: an honours elective in the Honours College programme. There are limited spots available for non honours students. Admission will be based on motivation.
Description
In a world where research should be excellent, what are the current responsibilities and societal roles of research? What is the relationship between universities, markets and civil society today? And what about the contemporary political economy of academic research environments and academic knowledge production? With both lectures and debate organized in this Honours Class titled ‘Academic Life’ we aim to increase awareness among this Honours student population about the changing role of academic knowledge and academics in our current society.
Course objectives
To acquire an understanding of academic science as a profession within a broader institutional ‘eco-system’ (e.g. universities, publishers, funders, evaluators)
To understand recent trends and changes in the national and international organization of academic science
To gain an appreciation of debates and controversies around the current organization of scientific research, rewards, and careers
To critically consider the strengths and limitations of proposed alternatives to problems identified in the science system
Timetable
Tuesday 20 & 27 March; 3, 10 & 17 April; 8, 15 & 22 May from 16-18h.
Location
Willem Einthoven Building (Kolffpad 1), Center for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS), 5th floor, meeting room 1-2.
Programme
Session 1 / 20 March: Seminar ‘Credibility Cycle’
Topics: Knowledge production process and various steps in the credibility cycle
Instructors: Dhr. Dr. T.N. van Leeuwen; Mw. Dr. I. Meijer; Mw. Dr. I.C.M. van der Weijden
Session 2 / 27 March: Seminar ‘Funding of Research’
Topics: Types of funding; national and EU funding; research programming and priorities, agenda setting
Instructors: Dhr. Dr. T.N. van Leeuwen
Session 3 / 3 April: Seminar ‘Doing Research’
Topics: Research ethics & integrity; sharing and shared norms; validity, reliability and objectivity
Instructors: Dhr. Dr. T.N. van Leeuwen
Session 4 / 10 April: Seminar ‘Organisation of the work environment’
Topics: Research management; academic leadership
Instructors: Mw. Dr. I. Meijer; Mw. Dr. I.C.M. van der Weijden
Session 5 / 17 April: Seminar ‘Gender and Diversity’
Topics: Implicit bias; gender differences in job activities, performance and mobility
Instructors: Mw. Dr. I. Meijer; Mw. Dr. I.C.M. van der Weijden
Session 6 / 8 May: Seminar ‘Communication and Evaluation Cultures’
Topics: Publication practices; diversity in communication; open science & open access; evaluation cultures
Instructors: Dhr. Dr. T.N. van Leeuwen
Session 7 / 15 May: Seminar ‘Evaluation Frameworks’
Topics: Evaluation practices, models and protocols; academic quality and societal relevance
Instructors: Dhr. Dr. T.N. van Leeuwen; Mw. Dr. I. Meijer
Session 8 / 22 May: Debate with external members organized by students
Instructors: Dhr. Dr. T.N. van Leeuwen; Mw. Dr. I. Meijer; Mw. Dr. I.C.M. van der Weijden
Course Load
This course is worth 5 EC, which means the total course load equals 140 hours.
Seminars: 8 interactive seminars of 2 hours (16 hours)
Literature reading & practical work: 8 hours p/week (64 hours)
Assignments & final debate of 2 hours: (60 hours)
Assessment method
33% Participation assessed continually through participation in seminar and structured activities
33% Six reflection papers to a session’s reading(s) of 500 words & 1 presentation.
33% Final Debate
Students must pass all assessments with 6.0 or higher to complete the course.
Blackboard and uSis
Blackboard will be used in this course. Students can register for the Blackboard site two weeks prior to the start of the course.
Please note: students are not required to register through uSis for the Honours Classes. Your registration will be done centrally.
Reading list
Various book chapters, scientific articles and policy documents to be announced on Blackboard.
Registration
Enrolling in this course is possible from Monday November 6th until Thursday November 16th 23.59 hrs through the Honours Academy, via this link. It is not necessary to register in uSis.