Netherlands

This course deals with some of the most fundamental questions concerning the development of the European Identity: what have been the decisive common experiences that have fostered a sense of European community and identity, and how have they evolved over time? The course provides an overview of the concept of Europe and the development of European identity, highlighting the specific characteristics of European political/social/cultural history, notably in comparison with that of other (non-European) societies, that contributed to a sense of European community and the European identity.

This course elaborates on the biological, psychological, and societal determinants of sexuality (in general) and sexual disorders (in specific). There are 4 lectures and 4 educational meetings in which a theme or group of complaints are discussed. These themes are (biological and psychological) theories on sexuality, sexual diversity, sexual dysfunctions in men and women, the impact of physical/psychological health and disease on sexual behavior and well-being, and the role of attachment and relationships (context and history) on sexuality. The theory is supplemented with practical clinical training in which students reflect on their own sexual development and learn to administer a sexual anamnesis.  The course also includes one theoretical practicum in which students discuss a specific research question and brainstorm possible research designs.

This course uses an interdisciplinary approach to examine various Gross Human Right Violations (GHRV). Students are introduced to a different GHRV each with its own psychological theories, mechanisms, and underpinnings. In addition to a theoretical understanding, students apply their knowledge to specific case studies by analyzing them through four parts. First, a historical incident where Human Rights were violated is introduced followed by a documentary on the specific situation. Second, students examine now declassified governmental cables, reports, and other sources thus reading influential documents in their original version without being dependent on anyone else’s interpretation. Third, a Perspective Challenge in the form of a scientific paper that has been controversially discussed is used to adopt a different perspective. Fourth, students analyze a currently ongoing or a recent violation of Human Rights to test if they are able to explain the psychological mechanisms at play.

This course focuses on brain-behavior relationships and aims at increasing one's understanding of how healthy humans (or brains) function and how brain disease, brain injury disorders, such as, traumatic brain injuries, stroke and dementia, express themselves and interfere with the demands of daily life. Relevant topics in this context are behavior, higher cognitive functions (e.g., memory, attention, executive functioning, language), emotion, and adaptation. During the course, students collect knowledge on: (1) the clinical phenomenology of the most important cognitive and behavioral disorders seen in humans; (2) the underlying brain-behavior relationships in these disorders; (3) the interrelationships between various cognitive dysfunctions, emotional-, and behavioral problems; and (4) assessment methods, diagnosis and treatment. Students also gain experience in the selection, administration, and interpretation of commonly used tests, measuring the above-mentioned domains of higher cortical functions, affective functions, and behavior.

At the end of the course students should have gained:

• knowledge of geographical diversity in Europe and the way in which this is subject of policy-making on the level of states, regions and the EU;
• insight in the functioning of organisations and actors on several levels within the European arena on behalf of local and regional interest;
• experience in analysing, reporting and discussing EU policy within the scope of distinct scales and geographical diversity.

Content

European Integration is a complex process, with many stakeholders involved. A couple of years ago an increasing number of authors expected a collapse of the EU, due to many challenges. We witnessed the effects of the  major financial crisis in the EU that started in 2008, and the almost collapse of the Eurozone. In 2015 the influx of asylum seekers was another challenging topic for the EU. A major divide has become visible (again): between the Northern and the Southern part of the EU, between the old and the new member states in Central and Eastern Europe.
Recently, some of the aforementioned authors, changed their mind and are more positive. More integration seems to take place, forced by external circumstances (like the changing position of the US and China in the world order and the war in Ukraine), and the need to have a more common Climate Policy. But still, it is difficult to reach consensus, and discussions continue.
Perhaps the main reason for the current EU crisis is (geographical) diversity. Many say that further integration is not possible without a political union. But a stronger political union would mean deeper integration, meaning that member states should give up more sovereignty and hand over power to Brussels.
The EU is therefore at a crossroad. How have we reached this point, and what are the further possible steps: that is the mean focus of our course. But we will always relate European integration to the geography and the diversity of Europe. There are many geographical dimensions of the Integration Process. We will focus on the following questions:

• What was the effect of European integration on regional differentiation in the EU? Is EU membership in general ‘good’ for economic and regional development?
• How successful were/are regional funds?
• What are the (geographical) limits of enlargement?
• What were the causes of the euro crisis, and were the problems related to the Monetary Union fixed?
• How to deal with migration and asylum seekers? What could be the design of a common Asylum and Migration Policy?
• What are the pros and cons of the Common Agricultural Policy?
• What are the effects of BREXIT?
• What are the challenges of the EU Climate- and Energy policy?
• What are the effects of the war in Ukraine?

During the course we try to explain the backgrounds of all these problems and dimensions, and will discuss the future of European Integration.
There will be lectures and exams, and several debates to discuss the major EU policies. A major component of this courses are debates, with role-playing. Groups of four students take the role of one member states.