English

The course enables students to gain a broad understanding of ten important environmental issues that have emerged during the Anthropocene, the science that underlies them, the various management and mitigation options and technologies, and how this links to policy. Topics include (as representative samples, which may change): deforestation, desertification and agricultural intensification, biodiversity loss, urbanization, pollution, ocean acidification, loss of polar environments, maintaining sustainability and ecosystem services, and understanding ecological systems and resilience.

Much of modern machine learning rests upon a range of mathematical methods and many introductory machine learning courses seek to introduce algorithms before ensuring the link with these methods is made. This course offers students an introduction to traditional Machine Learning in a rigorous mathematical fashion. Assuming a familiarity with key results of linear algebra, differential calculus, probability and statistics, the course introduces the key areas of traditional machine learning and seeks to cover the key tools (and theorems) within these areas, and to illustrate these with practical exemplars. 

This course provides an overview of how clinical research is conducted, from the identification of molecules with potential therapeutic interest to their approval by regulatory entities and the publication/dissemination of results to the scientific community. Through lectures, practical sessions, and practical problem-based learning, the various phases of clinical trials are explained in detail, using real examples. 

Organizations operate in an increasingly complex environment, where change is a constant feature of business life. As generative AI (GenAI) reshapes industries and transforms the way people work, understanding how to manage change and digital transformation becomes increasingly critical. While GenAI offers unparalleled opportunities to enhance efficiency and productivity, it also presents complex challenges for management. Taking a multidisciplinary, social science-based approach, this course equips students with the necessary leadership and change management skills to implement successful digital transformation projects. The course blends theory with hands-on learning, using case studies and an interactive simulation game, where students will apply their knowledge by making strategic decisions. Additionally, students gain practical experience through a real-life GenAI-focused consultancy project.

This course examines the problems and possibilities of peace operations conducted by the United Nations. From a small number of traditional peacekeeping missions (PK) throughout the Cold War that helped to bring peace and security to some war torn regions, to a huge growth in the number of peacekeeping missions undertaken by the UN in the early 1990s, just after the Cold War ended, that included aggressive humanitarian intervention, democracy building, and peacemaking among other goals, there is much to be learned from these numerous peace operations, each with elements of success and failure.

In this course, students develop strategic thinking skills to create and implement effective communication plans on social media. Students learn social media theory and innovative methodologies to understand the social, political, and economic impact of digital media on strategic communication and public relations. Topics include mastering key strategies to enhance the digital presence of businesses, governments, and NGOs, learning to analyze the impact of social media in everyday life and the professional sphere, and becoming an expert in digital communication.

Computational biology and data science have undergone tremendous expansion in recent years, resulting from increased computational power and accessibility of quantitative biological measurements. The course teaches students about the power of mathematical, computational, and statistical analyses, and their roles in biological research. This is achieved through sessions that combine lectures, paper-and-pen calculations, and computer practicals. Topics include data carpentry, handling, modelling, and data analysis using different types of biological measurements from the areas of Genomics, Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity research. Students gain confidence in searching and curating real-life datasets, constructing mathematical models, and combining them to answer biological questions that are inaccessible without the use of computers or mathematics.

This course is about the geography of social change in Africa. It is designed to build on the second year course Development Geography, but there are no prerequisites. The course analyzes the different factors that shape spatial differences in development indicators across Africa. The course allows students to explore the diversity of forms that the geography of social change in Africa takes. As such the course investigates the impacts of history, politics, sociology, and economics on spatial patterns of development. The course uses postcolonial theory as an analytical framework. This entails reflecting on the ongoing legacies of colonialism not only in terms of empirical institutions, practices and norms but also in relation to the production of knowledge and ideas. The course relies heavily on wide independent reading, including reading from disciplines beyond geography.

From a comparative and multidisciplinary perspective, this intermediate-level course takes a gendered perspective to discuss some of the most important political, economic, and social problems of contemporary societies in the Americas. The course is divided into two parts. In the first part, it assesses the quality of democracy from a gendered perspective, focusing on descriptive representation, elections, and voter behavior. In the second part, the course examines the gendered dimensions of public policy, with a focus on specific policy areas (e.g., poverty, healthcare, violence).

How have global forces shaped Africa’s states and economies—and how will today’s shifting world order define its future? In this course, students explore the evolution of contemporary Africa, examining the uneven trajectories of nations and regions through the lens of geography, history, geopolitics, and global markets. Students trace Africa’s place in the global system from the colonial era to Cold War developmentalism, to the neoliberal “Washington Consensus,” and the “Africa Rising” narrative driven by China’s ascent. Finally, students contemplate today’s tectonic shifts in global geopolitics and the current polycrisis of climate, geopolitics, and deglobalization. Through scholarly readings, policy reports, films, debates, and case studies, students critically engage with these pressing issues, gaining a deeper understanding of Africa’s past, present, and possible futures—while also better understanding the global economic and political shifts since the 1950s.