English

This course explores to which degree chronic diseases emerge in different populations on a global level. The main emphasis is on diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and obesity. The course provides the participants with a definition of the concept of ethnicity/race followed by investigations in different populations globally in order to show if and why chronic diseases are more prevalent in specific populations. In this field, studies in Europeans (Caucasians) are mainly used as a reference. Different questions are addressed such as: are there biological differences between ethnic populations? Are the WHO definitions of for example overweight applicable in all populations? Do changes in lifestyle have the same effect in all populations? The concepts of fetal programming and the metabolic syndrome are defined and discussed. Furthermore, the course makes an attempt to look ahead and give a qualified guess with regards to the association between disease and susceptibility due to genetic admixture as a result of migration and urbanization on a worldwide scale. Finally, the course addresses the association between chronic and communicable diseases, which is highly prevalent in developing countries.

Focusing on the relationship between Austen and her readers, this course uses a series of close readings from the six major novels to explore Austen's work in the context of her life and times, including subjects such as: Austen's portrayal of gender and power; the influence of war and colonialism in her work; her humor and wit; her sense of theatre and performance; her use of free indirect style; her subversion of the Gothic; and the many adaptations and afterlives of her fiction. Students read excerpts from Austen's major novels alongside her teenage writings, her letters and other works unpublished in her lifetime, paying special attention to Austen's narrative style, which challenges her reader to decipher fact from fiction, opinion from objectivity. Students place the works alongside each other, and they add into the mix the "Austenalia" which has become an essential element of her contemporary reception. This includes contemporary film adaptations and spin-offs, and allow students to investigate the rich intertextual relationship between Austen's core published oeuvre and the many revisionary readings it has inspired.

The seminar covers the historical evolution of modern tax systems. It is composed of three main parts. The first part is devoted to the determinants of tax introductions. Students consider if governments have begun to tax their citizens to finance wars and if more long-term processes like economic modernization and democratization are decisive. The second part deals with the division of the tax burden among different parts of society. The third part covers the impact of globalization on national tax systems. The process by which governments divide the right to tax cross-border economic activity is covered. The course also discusses tax havens that have emerged and the steps that governments take together to fight tax evasion and avoidance.

Environmental economic geography takes a geographical approach to the interface between production, consumption, and environmental impact. In particular, to evaluate strategies for dealing with municipal and industrial wastes, scrap, and by-products that reduce the environmental impact of production and consumption.

This course provides students with basic knowledge and understanding of Dutch law within the context of the Western legal traditions. An extensive and general coverage of Dutch legal history and the institutions and sources of the Dutch law is combined with an overview of the principles of Dutch constitutional, private, and criminal law. Prerequisites include reasonable knowledge of one legal system. This course is only open to exchange students.

This course presents knowledge about color theory as well as research-based information about color and associated topics that can be used in design. Information and knowledge about color can vary in quality and reliability, which is demonstrated. Students apply their skills and knowledge about color theory and color design in the assignments. It covers the processes of color vision and other aspects of visual perception. It also explores color application from the pre-history period, as well as selected color theories of the Renaissance period through to the 21st century. Common color-related constructs and the application of these in art, architecture, and design are discussed. In completing the assessments tasks, students must demonstrate understanding of the knowledge presentedand critically analyze and apply knowledge related to color design and application.

The course focuses on very-large-scale integrated (VLSI) digital circuit realization, targeting for fast prototyping on an FPGA platform. Students learn how to implement typical blocks of a large digital system, e.g., state machines, data-path, etc. Moreover, students are taught to optimize a digital implementation, mainly on the architecture level, for area, speed, and power. Basic knowledge of design for test (DFT) is covered to provide good understanding of a complete digital VLSI design flow. The knowledge gained during the lectures is implemented through practical assignments in the lab. The course teaches the basic concept of VHDL and tool training required for the compulsory assignments, i.e., Sequence Detector, ALU, and a Keyboard Controller. Based on the experience gained through compulsory assignments, the students may continue with a small project.

The course examines the ways in which the law has created, reinforced, and transformed gender roles. It explores the concepts of gender and sexuality, role of feminism in the gender discourse, growth and development of women's rights internationally and in Ghana, as well as juvenile justice and child rights in Ghana.