Netherlands

Human Rights has been an object of literary studies since the 1980s-2000s. Tapping into the knowledge produced in this new field, this course reframes the history of modern literature as part of a broader development: the invention and history of human rights. This course explores several 'classics' in the history of Human Rights literature as well as a broad range of literary texts that discuss human rights from various perspectives but are not considered part of the literary canon. This course studies these forms as they have evolved since the late eighteenth century and across the globe in oral and written modes (songs, poems, novels, (auto-)biographies, graphic novels/comics, and so forth). There will be two seminar-style classes per week with assigned reading in advance of each session. There is a particular focus on partner/small-group work and interactive discussions, presentations, and discussions on the literature for an assigned session. An introduction to literature course is required for entry. 

This course gives insights into resource management in sustainable (including organic) agriculture through the integration of knowledge about farm components (soils, plants, livestock) and the surrounding landscapes. The course includes on each of the four themes: soils, crops, animals, and systems analysis/modeling as well as an excursion to a local dairy farm. Basic knowledge of soil, crop, and livestock science is assumed.

This course reviews how genetic factors that influence human traits are identified. The traits focused on are human diseases, but the techniques can be applied to a wide field of subjects. The background knowledge necessary to understand and apply the different methods, the molecular laboratory techniques (theoretically), and the approaches to finding causal variants for human heritable diseases are taught. Students practice using the vast number of databases containing human genetic information. The subjects can roughly be divided into two main groups: Organization and evolution of genomes and genes and identification of mutations that influence human diseases. Requirements for admission include a knowledge of the structure and organization of DNA; the processes of meiosis and mitosis, including recombination; transcription and translation; gene expression; laboratory techniques such as PCR, restriction enzymes, and DNA-hybridization. 

Global Supply Chain Management focuses on why and how companies engage in international supply chain activities. Key topics include motives, barriers, risks, partnership(s), and the global supply chain organization. Coping with various supply chain disruptions is a recurring challenge addressed. Tutorials evolve around student presentations and discussions of relevant literature, case studies, and roleplay. Students regularly present assigned literature or case material, as well as provide additional material such as relevant academic articles, cases, and examples.

This course discusses literature from different parts of the world from 1789 (the beginning of the French Revolution) to 1914 (the beginning of the First World War). Three different angles are used to study changes and developments in literature and society in this period: (1) a material perspective considers how literature changes as a medium for communication, including developments in the production and distribution of books; (2) a formal perspective which looks at new forms and genres of writing, including the continuing development of the novel as a dominant cultural form; (3) a thematic perspective analyzing how literary expression is influenced by social changes. Examples include industrialization, the relationship between rural and urban environments, and the colonial ambitions of European states and Japan.

This course provides the opportunity to learn how to apply knowledge and skills to address complex social and environmental problems. This course is structured around experiential problem-based learning, providing the opportunity to synthesize theory and practice. Topics include critically reviewing concepts; user-centered design of social and environmental enterprises; frameworks for understanding and strategizing; understanding and reporting social and environmental impact; and cross-sector collaboration. Prerequisites: two introductory business courses.

This course raises the question: do we have an ethical responsibility to help migrants and refugees? and develops an in-depth response through Community Engaged Research (CER). It is a multi-disciplinary academic immersion in the topic beginning with workshopping community engagement as a practice. Students work in small groups to undertake community engagement with an organization, movement, or individual working publicly to address migration-related issues.  The written, multi-media, or performative project is completed in close collaboration with that social organization, movement, institution, or individual. By combining academic study and community engagement, students develop their vision and response to the issue of migration, even as they negotiate with the community organization/movement/individual regarding the substance, form, and goals of the project to be carried out. The course builds on several introductory questions: How did we get ourselves into this situation? What is driving migration and what is driving our countries’ policies of inhumanity? Why is this such a difficult and sensitive issue? What responses have there been from social movements, civic and human rights organizations and citizens? How do these draw on and transform much older traditions of sanctuary, refuge, hospitality, and human community?

This course reviews the benefits of policy development, planning, and management of the environmental compartments of water and soil. The focus is on the interrelationships between human activities and their effects on water and soil, and the subsequent need and options for integrated water and soil management. It describes the analysis of water and soil systems and their mutual relations, as well as the history, concepts, monitoring, and developments in policy and legislation regarding water and soil management. Acquaintance with practice takes place through guest lecturers from the professional field, practicals, excursions, and student work.

The course is devoted to understanding the fundamentals of descriptive and inferential statistics (concepts, rationale of analyses, and their assumptions), and to the application of techniques on data sets. It starts with a definition of basic concepts relevant to all statistical tests, eg chance and odds, randomness, data levels, and probability distributions. Systematic errors and random errors are discussed concerning their impact on the reliability and validity of data. Concepts explained include the sampling distribution, standard error, test statistics, chosen (alpha) and observed (p-value) significance level, type I and type II error, the power of a test, confidence intervals, and effect size measures. Research designs that are widely used in applied science research and relate these to different types of samples are used. The lab sessions include data sets to be checked and summarized using appropriate descriptive statistical techniques. Data transformations are applied where needed.