Welcome to the international world of social and environmental change! You will start your semester by collaborating with 2nd-year International Development Management and Forestry and Nature Conservation students. Together, you will be working on a real-life case with various stakeholders with opposing interests in the use of natural resources affecting both the environment and social relations. You will collaboratively design a transition pathway for a just and sustainable solution. This study unit is supplemented by an International Development Management module of your choice: Just and Sustainable Value Chains or Disaster and Conflict Reduction.

In the second part of the semester, you choose 2 out of 3 study units. What will you go for? Do you want to focus on Environmental Justice, Resilient Communities and Food, or Social Inclusion and diversity? By choosing 2 out of these 3 topics, you can shape your study path to your wishes.

Both of these semesters are supported by a trajectory in personal leadership. You will get trained in non-violent communication and work on your personal goals.

Below you can find some more in-depth information on the different study units

Term 3
VLB201ST | Shaping Transitions Together (6 credits)
This study unit focuses on the following aspects: transitions, transition science, transition arena, transition agenda, transition models, interdisciplinary context, transition case, solutions, reflection.

VID230VC | Just and Sustainable Value Chains (6 credits)
This study unit focuses on complex value chains of any kind (both food/agriculture chains as well as non-agricultural commodities). It specifically focuses on “identifying (un)just & (un)sustainable practices in specific value chains”. This module challenges students to come up with advice and define improved practices to achieve more sustainable and just VC’s, by identifying competing claims, governance + power structures, and root causes, taking the different levels of a value chain into account, related to the specific chain.

VID230DC | Disaster and Conflict Reduction (6 credits)
As representative of an NGO or UN organization the student will learn to design a professional action plan to address the disasters and conflicts of today and tomorrow. The study unit addresses both natural/climate induced disasters such as more intense flooding in Africa and Asia as well as other disasters such as the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan. The student will build expertise in the following areas: 1) humanitarian response and recovery and especially on prevention of disasters by increasing resilience 2) community-based disaster risk management, localization and accountability 3) vulnerabilities and capacities related to disasters and conflicts 3) climate adaptation, migration/refugees. 4) Conflict theories and peacebuilding 5) how to address the needs of the most vulnerable through social inclusion.

Term 4
VID240EJ | Environmental Justice (6 credits)
The student gains first-hand experience of addressing environmental injustices through contributing to the development and implementation of a grassroots campaign to challenge unsustainable development and increase environmental and community health. Students will work with a commissioner to deliver (part of) an existing campaign strategy, gaining experience of community engagement and advocacy strategies related to both local and transnational efforts to achieve environmental and social justice.

VID240RC | Resilient Communities and Food (6 credits)
'Resilient Communities and Food' focuses on food insecurity situations in the world, its causes, and potential pathways to address these causes.
During lectures various models and frameworks will be used to unpack real-life food insecurity cases. Individual students research a recent food insecurity case, using these models and frameworks, and interview a resource person/ expert familiar with the case.
Developing a podcast is the last step in the process, using the findings of desk research and interviews. To strengthen students' podcast development skills, some workshops are planned.

VID240SI | Social Inclusion and Diversity (6 credits)
In this study unit students dive deeper into the theory around gender equality, diversity and empowerment and the understanding of the human rights approach. Further, students are equipped to recognize patterns and mechanisms of exclusion and marginalization. Students are also encouraged to explore and recognize their own values and biases. The knowledge and tools acquired are used to conduct a situation analysis and develop a proposal for a selected commissioner.

Terms 3 and 4
VID251LP| Languages and Personal Leadership (6 credits)
Languages (2 credits). In Term 3, minor students will choose between attending the Spanish course offered at level A2.2 and passing the oral exam at level A2 or completing a replacement assignment. To participate in the Spanish course, the minimum proficiency level of A1+ in Spanish is required. Approval from the IDM language coordinator is needed.

In Term 4, students will attend the English course at level C1 (2 credits). During this term, students -as a professional user- are working towards being to express themselves fluently and spontaneously almost effortlessly and having a good command of a broad lexical repertoire allowing gaps to be readily overcome with circumlocutions.  

Personal Leadership (2 credits). Through individual mentor meetings, training and using your PO credits you develop yourself further as a professional. You get immersive training in non-violent communication. You make a personal development plan and visit exhibitions, companies etc. to build your network and figure out your future pathway.

Added Value: Students can choose between different study units; hence they can carve their own pathway in the international field of Social and Environmental Change. Furthermore, in Regenerating Landscapes students work together with forestry students to analyse an issue to arrive at sustainable and just solutions by designing a transition pathway. This experience in interdisciplinary working will benefit their further career.

VID-L2A1 - You make a systematic analysis of a change process in a specific complicated situation in the professional field and argue what change outcomes are just and unjust for particular target groups and the environment. You apply relevant thematic knowledge and using relevant theories, frameworks and tools analysing root causes and impacts to understand change.

VID-L2A2 - You apply project management principles in a specific (complicated) context for a commissioner/organisation taking into account the interrelationship between social and ecological systems. You argue which actions/strategies/ToC are feasible to arrive at the desired change, develop indicators/progress markers to monitor progress, and explain why change outcomes are just and sustainable.

VID2-L2A3 - You are able to analyse and discuss unequal power relations. You know how to contribute to change and identify together with the target group an appropriate strategy to challenge injustices and reduce inequality. You are able to analyse power dynamics among stakeholders in a complicated context, and can apply appropriate theories, tools and frameworks.

VID-L2C2 - You communicate your ideas and findings by choosing appropriate media/language for the (intercultural) audience.

VID-L2C3 - You justly and effectively deal with different perspectives, needs and power dynamics based on ethical principles.  

VID-L2D3 - You develop your own personal and professional learning outcomes based on your reflection on prior achievements, daring to step out of your comfort zone.

VID-L2D4 - You reflect on your own and others' experiences, norms and values, considering ethical principles, drawing lessons for future orientation.

VID-L2EN1 (Advanced) - After this module, you -as a professional user- are working towards being able to express themselves fluently and spontaneously, almost effortlessly. Is working towards having a good command of a broad lexical repertoire allowing gaps to be readily overcome with circumlocutions.

VID-L2SFL1 (Advanced) - After this double module, you -as a basic user- are able to understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g., very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment).

VID-L2SFL2 (Advanced) - After this double module, you -as a basic user- are able to communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine; matters.

VID-L2SFL3 (Advanced) - After this double module, you -as a basic user- are able to describe is simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment, and matters in areas of immediate need.

VLB-L201ST (Advanced) - In an interdisciplinary collaboration, you work on a just and sustainable transition path for a transition issue and devise feasible activities for this purpose in the short, medium, and long term. You analyze the issue, map out the transition arena, and substantiate the choices made using provided relevant (transition) theories and models. You identify and explore various relevant perspectives, maintain an open attitude, acknowledge differences, and demonstrate awareness of the knowledge, values, and interests of others. You make a constructive contribution to interdisciplinary learning, working, and communicating, and consciously reflect on your own actions and learning throughout the process.

None

Will be announced

Teaching method(s) and study load

Lectures, Coaching, Excursions, Peer to Peer, Workshops, guest lectures

VLB201ST | Shaping Transitions Together (6 credits)

Lectures: 30 hours (approx.)

Coaching 20 hours (approx.)

Group work: 80 hours (approx.)

Self-study: 38 hours (approx.)

VID230DC (Term 3 | 6 ECTS – choice 1/2)

Lectures: 64 hours

Coaching: 6 hours

Excursion: 8 hours Group work: 24 hours Self-Study: 66 hours

VID230VC (Term 3 |6 ECTS – choice 2/2)

Lectures: 36 hours

Workshops: 13 hours

Coaching: 6 hours

Excursion: 8 hours Peer to Peer: 10 hours Self-Study: 95 hours

VID2240EJ (Term 4 | 6 ECTS – choice 1/3)

Lectures: 60 hours

Coaching: 20 hours

Excursion: 16 hours

Self-Study: 72 hours

VID240RC (Term 4 | 6 ECTS – choice 2/3)

Lectures: 60 hours

Coaching: 20 hours

Self-Study: 88 hours

VID240SI (Term 4 | 6 ECTS – choice 3/3)

Lectures: 39 hours

Coaching: 9 hours Group work: 70 hours Self-Study: 50 hours

VID250LP (Terms 3 and 4 | 6 ECTS)

Spanish and English

Lectures: 21 hours

Self-Study: 35 hours

Assignment

Self-Study: 56 hours

PLD

Mentoring: 2 hours

Self-Study: 54 hours

Individual assignments;
written exam;
making a podcast;
oral exam.