English

The fate of the European Union hangs in the balance. The crisis concerns more than economics. Do Europeans feel European, or is Europe simply a collection of states with a history of close interactions and devastating wars? Will Europe overcome its dilemmas? How do contemporary social theorists respond to the political, social, and cultural questions raised by the crisis? The course probes these issues to deepen understanding of Europe in the context of contemporary social theory

The course gives in-depth knowledge about climate systems and how climate models are constructed. In the first half of the course different components of contemporary climate models (ocean/land/atmosphere) and interactions between them are introduced and discussed. This includes handling of typical data formats associated with climate models and the analysis of model output with varying resolution and/or complexity. The second half of the course focuses on applications in paleoclimate reconstructions and impact models and the use of ensembles to assess model uncertainties. This includes projects where students independently and in groups solve tasks using programming. Exercise in the use of simplified climate models and analysis tools as well as information retrieval and oral and written presentation techniques are included as a part of certain learning activities.

This course introduces the hydrologic cycle and relevant atmospheric processes: water and energy balance, radiation, precipitation, snow, infiltration, evaporation, transpiration, groundwater flow, streamflow, and flood processes. In addition, AI applications in hydrologic processes are covered. Topics include The Hydrologic Cycle, Atmospheric Water, Runoff and Streamflow, Groundwater, and Soil Water.

Prerequisite: ELEMENTARY FLUID MECHANICS

This course approaches themes such as justice, citizenship, and the constitution of the state—as we experience and reflect on them within a liberal democratic system—through close readings of texts in ancient political thought.  

Returning to ancient Greece, often regarded as the birthplace of both democracy and justice, we examine Socratic argumentation, the death of Socrates, and the visions of a just state as imagined by Plato and Aristotle.  

Through this exploration, we aim to envision what a just democratic society might look like today.  

Topics include The Meaning of Ancient Political Thought – Why Do We Study Ancient Political Thought?; The Relationship Between Tradition and Philosophy – Taking a Step Back from Socrates; The Problem of the Divine – The Search for a Standard; Why Socrates Refused the City's Commands; The Apology of Socrates; The Problem of Justice – Understanding Thrasymachus’ Claim that Justice Is the Advantage of the Strong; What Kind of Citizens Constitute a Just State?; Why Is the Philosopher-King Necessary?; The Problem of the City-State and Slavery – The Meaning of the Polis and Its Members; The City-State and the Citizen – The Ideal City-State?; The Persistence of the City-State – How Does a City-State Endure or Decline?; and Justice, Virtue, and Happiness – The Aim of the Political Community. 

This course examines the role of branding strategy in marketing and provides insight into how different branding approaches can be executed to achieve strategic outcomes. Topics include brand management, customer-based brand equity and positioning, brand resonance and the brand value chain, and the selection of brand elements. The course also covers designing marketing programs and integrated communications to build brand equity, branding in the digital era, and developing systems for measuring and managing brand equity. Additional areas include assessing customer mind-set and market performance, implementing brand architecture strategies, launching new products and brand extensions, and managing brands over time and across global markets and segments.

This course focuses on the areas of property law obligations (part of contract law), using primarily a comparative as well as historic perspective. In addition, the course explores the fundamental (human) rights perspective, specifically, but not only, of property rights. A selection of jurisdictions within (The Netherlands, Germany, France, England, Scotland) as well as outside the European Union (United States, South Africa) are explored, as well as the European Union itself. At least one of the following course modules must be completed: [UCSSCLAW11] Law, Society and Justice or [UCSSCLAW12] Introduction to Law

This course introduces fundamental methods and techniques for analyzing both biotic interactions and abiotic conditions in diverse marine ecosystems. Through a combination of laboratory work and field studies, students gain hands-on experience in experimental design, data collection, and analysis. Topics include measurement of abiotic factors, assessment of species interactions and community structure, evaluation of biodiversity and similarity indices, and investigation of behavioral and ecological patterns. The course also explores the effects of human activities on marine environments and examines strategies for ecosystem restoration, rehabilitation, and conservation.

This introductory survey course is an exploration of the enduring philosophical and spiritual traditions of Asia, focusing on key ancient and modern texts that illuminate timeless human concerns. From the ethical teachings of Confucius to the contemplative insights of Buddhism and the flowing harmony of Taoist thought, this course invites students to engage deeply with foundational ideas that have shaped Eastern civilizations. We also consider how these traditions respond to and converse with global philosophical currents, offering a rich comparative perspective. Through close reading and discussion, students gain not only historical and cultural understanding but also personal insight into ways of living wisely in a complex world. 

This course examines the historical and contemporary social determinants of Indigenous wellbeing. Through an exploration of holistic Indigenous health and wellbeing frameworks, students identify a range of successful strategies that facilitate self-determination and transform Indigenous health and wellbeing outcomes. 

The course consists of a part with a practically oriented project assignment and a theoretical part.  Working in groups, choose a service robotics topic to study and present this orally to the other students. The theoretical part is deepened at a literature seminar where scientific articles are discussed. Examples of service robotics topics include different service robotics applications, human-robot interaction, levels of robot autonomy, navigation of mobile robots, SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping), maze-solving algorithms, line-following algorithms, wheeled locomotion, odometry, anthropomorphic robots, robot ethics or a service robotics topics of the students’ own choice. The practical part consists of a project in one or more of the above-mentioned areas which is carried out in groups of usually four students. A functioning service robot is developed by integrating an Arduino controller, servos, sensors and mechanical components produced by for example laser cutting or 3D printing. The project applies knowledge in mechanics, electronics and programming.