All programmes > Culture, Migration and Mobility

Culture, Migration and Mobility (B-KUL-S0F75C)

6 ECTSEnglish39 Second term
Arnaut Karel
POC Antropologie

Aims

Upon completion of this course, the student is able to:
- Clarify the interplay between culture-formation, migration, and mobility in a number of different empirical domains of transnational practices;
- Apply concepts, insights, research tools and methodologies deriving from the human and social sciences in general and anthropology in particular, to this field of study;
- Critically analyse and interpret the complexities of the phenomena of culture-formation, mobility and migration in the context of globalization from an anthropological point of view.

These objectives will be communicated to the students at the start of the semester.

Previous knowledge

Students are acquainted with basic concepts, research tools and methodologies in anthropology.

Only students holding a bachelor's degree can register for this master's course

Is included in these courses of study

Activities

6 ects. Culture, Migration and Mobility (B-KUL-S0F75a)

6 ECTSEnglishFormat: Lecture39 Second term
Arnaut Karel
POC Antropologie

Content

This course focuses on anthropological research, concepts and case-studies dealing with the complexities of the phenomena of culture-formation, mobility and migration within a context which is generally identified as globalization. Students gain a broad as well as in-depth understanding of the interplay between processes of culture-formation related to complex forms of migration and mobility.

The guiding questions of this course are (a) How is culture constituted through processes of migration, circulation and mobility?; and (b) How are migration and mobility signified and imagined and construed through the lens of (changing) cultural ideologies and practices?

The key theoretical concepts dealt with in the course are, among others, super-diversity, transnationality, multi-sitedness, complex migration trajectories, the multiplication of borders, transnational popular culture/heritage, diaspora, regimes of diversity and mobility, autochthony and indigeneity .

The disciplinary range of the course occasionally exceeds Anthropology and ventures into Cultural Studies, Urban Studies, Social and Cultural Geography, and Sociolinguistics. The geographical focus is eminently global with a slight bias towards Europe and Africa.

Course material

Used course material includes:
- articles
- slides
- multimedia

Course material, including ‘basic texts’, slides and bibliographic references of sources mentioned during the lectures, is announced and/or made available through Toledo. Toledo is being used for this learning activity.

Format: more information

Learning activities include:

1. Reading assignments (before each session). Students are expected to have read carefully the assigned texts (called ‘basic texts’) before the weekly lecture and draft a so-called ‘discussion note’: a short reflective statement about 10 of the ‘basic texts’ for each of the 5 thematic sections.

2. Weekly lectures consist of in-depth, interactive analysis and elaboration of each of the ‘basic texts’. These sessions are prepared by a designated group of students, and enriched by short clips and other material introduced by the instructor. The designated group of students are expected to participate actively.

Evaluation

Evaluation: Culture, Migration and Mobility (B-KUL-S2F75c)

Type : Partial or continuous assessment with (final) exam during the examination period
Description of evaluation : Portfolio, Take-Home
Type of questions : Open questions
Learning material : Course material, Reference work

Explanation


The exam is assessed by the titular, as announced on Toledo and in the exam regulation. The result is calculated and expressed with a whole number on 20 and calculated as follows:

Permanent evaluation: 40%

Take-home assignment: 60%

If the students does not participate in 1 (or more) out of several partial evaluations, the result of these not participated parts will be calculated as a 0-score in the weighted end result.

-  Permanent evaluation includes (a) the production of 10 discussion notes concerning the 10 'basic texts', prior to the class in which the respective texts are discussed, (b) the prominent participation of the designated discussion group in 'their' session. The traces of this permanent learning activity is submitted in one portfolio containing 10 one-page discussion notes and a two-page reflection note on the session in which the student was participating in a dedicated discussion group.

- Take-home assignment during the exam period.

Materials: course material (texts of the reading assignment + slides)

Questions: Open questions

Content: Transversal question addressing a theme that runs through the entire course

Students are allowed to consult the course material (slides and printouts of the texts of the reading assignment) which will be made available on Toledo.

Details of the Take-home assignment will be explained during the first session, and on Toledo.

The evaluation grid of this course is available on request.

*Students are fully responsible for submitting papers and assignments free of fraud and plagiarism (www.kuleuven.be/english/education/plagiarism/) and are requested to observe the Faculty’s relevant regulations.  Plagiarism will be sanctioned with the sanctions mentioned in the University’s Regulations on Education and Examinations (http://www.kuleuven.be/education/regulations/).

Information about retaking exams

Retakes are only possible for end results below 10/20.

If the students receives an overall failing grade during the second examination period, both the permanent evaluation (the portfolio) and the take-home assignment must be retaken. The portfolio is retaken in the form of a reflection paper (min. 3500 and max 4000 words) on the material presented in the course. The take-home assignment is retaken in a modality equivalent to that of the second examination period.