Summer Course in Transnationalism in Contemporary Society
Amsterdam, Netherlands
DURATION
2 Weeks
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Request earliest startdate
TUITION FEES
EUR 765 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* VU students
Introduction
This multidisciplinary course delves into the intricate realm of transnationalism, exploring its practices and strategies for intervention. Tailored for students specializing in organizational science, communication science, sociology, political science, public administration, anthropology, and related social science majors, this course offers a comprehensive exploration of transnational phenomena. Through a comparative lens, it examines transnationalism while differentiating it from the broader concept of globalization. The course aims to equip students with the tools to identify, analyze, and address contemporary transnational challenges.
Throughout this course, students will engage in an in-depth analysis of transnational mobility, transnational care, and transnational organizational governance. The focus extends beyond observation, highlighting potential complexities and challenges inherent in transnational practices, particularly within multilevel governance structures, such as those evident within the European Union.
Conceptual Framework & Analytical Tools: Drawing upon seminal works by scholars like Basch et al. (1994) and Vertovec (1999), the course unveils the multifaceted nature of transnationalism. It explores transnationalism as a social morphology, a mode of cultural reproduction, and a site of political engagement. Furthermore, it examines the interplay between transnationalism and various disciplines, illustrating its relevance not only in academic discourse but also in policymaking, international media, and corporate spheres.
In addition to theoretical exploration, students will be introduced to analytical frameworks such as the Governance Analytical Framework (GAF) and Coleman's Boat for social mechanism exploration. These frameworks serve as invaluable tools, enabling students to dissect complex social problems and unveil underlying mechanisms. The application of these analytical approaches aims to demystify intricate social phenomena, providing students with transferable skills beneficial for future social science studies and research endeavors.
Course Overview
- Course level: Advanced Bachelor's, Master's and Ph.D.
- Coordinating lecturer: Wenhui DING
- Forms of tuition: In-class lectures and workgroups
- Contact hours: 45 hours
- Self-study hours: 39
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Equal Access Scholarship
Application Procedure
Application for the Equal Access Scholarship will open in Febraury
Great that you are interested in applying for the Equal Access Scholarship. You can apply to the scholarship between 12 February and 1 April. Please be aware that it is only possible to select one course.
The results of the scholarship selection will be announced in May. Since we have a limited number of scholarships available for a large number of applicants, we suggest - if possible! - to complete your payment at the time of your course application to guarantee your place in the course. However, if you are not able to come without the scholarship, you can just wait until the announcement. If you would like to come, regardless of whether you will be granted the scholarship, it is best to secure your place in the course by completing your payment via our regular application form. If the scholarship is granted to you, the tuition and accommodation fees will be reimbursed.
Deadline to submit your Equal Access Scholarship application: 31 March (23:59 CET).
Requirements
When you apply via the Equal Access Scholarship application form you will be requested to upload the following documents:
- Curriculum Vitae/Résumé (CV) stating your educational background.
- Professional Letter of Reference Including:
- His/her/their experience working with you (either in an academic, professional, or volunteer setting)
- His/her/their motivation for recommending you for the scholarship
- Complete contact information
- When filling out the scholarship form, we will ask the following questions*:
- Why are you interested in joining VU Amsterdam Summer School?
- What’s your motivation for selecting this course?
- How you will use the information you learn to make a positive impact in the future for both you and your community?
- Why do you deserve this scholarship?
Please stick to a maximum of 150 words per question.
Green Travel Grant
At VU Amsterdam Summer School we are also committed to VU's sustainability goals and we aim to reduce the environmental impact of mobility, and specifically, student travel. Therefore, we are thrilled to offer Green Travel Grants to encourage sustainable travel for students attending our summer school.
Where can I apply?
Once the courses have been confirmed to run in mid-May or June, we will send out a newsletter to our participants with a link where they can apply for either funding for train travel or funding for bus travel.
The application period will last two weeks, and we will select the winners via a lottery system. More information on the specific deadlines can be found in the newsletter we send out in May.
How does it work?
For students to receive the economic compensation they will need to submit their purchased travel tickets via email within two weeks after being selected as winners of the grant. Once the deadline to submit their tickets has passed, the students will receive the reimbursement.
Welcome to Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Summer and Winter Schools
Last chance to apply!
Program Outcome
- Grasp Multidisciplinary Perspectives: Develop an extensive understanding of transnationalism theories within Sociology, Organisation Sciences, Political Science and Public Administration, Anthropology, Communication Science, and Human Geography, fostering a comprehensive grasp of diverse disciplinary viewpoints.
- Discern Transnational Dynamics: Distinguish between globalization, internationalization, and transnationalism, critically examining their differences and implications across various social science disciplines.
- Analyse Transnational Problems: Identify and analyze social phenomena or issues linked to transnational practices using the Governance Analytical Framework (GAF), dissecting problems through problem definition, actors, norms, nodal points, and processes.
- Utilise Analytical Frameworks: Apply the Governance Analytical Framework (GAF) and Social Mechanism (Coleman’s Boat) to dissect complex transnational problems like elderly care for transnational laborers in the EU, uncovering the intricate mechanisms behind identified challenges.
- Develop Innovative Interventions: Evaluate prior problem-solving approaches, foster critical thinking, and devise innovative multidisciplinary interventions collaboratively with peers to effectively address challenges associated with transnationalism.
- Cultivate Interdisciplinary Thinking: Foster interdisciplinary thinking and scientific reasoning, encouraging problem analysis and intervention in cooperation with peers from various disciplines, promoting an integrated approach to tackling transnational issues.
- Integrate Levels of Analysis: Explore the interaction between individual, organizational, and institutional levels, examining how media and policies facilitate social interventions within transnational contexts, highlighting interconnectedness across multiple societal levels.