Netherlands

This course gives a brief introduction to the economics of technological change and the labor market. The main aim of this course is to understand the impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on the demand for workers and on wages. The course considers such questions as what are the effects of ICT on the structures of organizations; how does ICT impact wages and the division of labor? do people with ICT skills earn higher wages?

This course covers mental disorders. Students learn about mental and behavioral distress and/or dysfunction and how to promote subjective well-being and personal adaptation.  Case studies on different anxiety disorders, eating disorders, addictions, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, and personality disorders are used. Questions continually raised during the course are: what is the clinical picture?  where is the boundary between no need for care and need for care? what causes such a disorder? what can be done about the disorder?  the gap between theory and practice, between scientific thinking and clinical treatment are evaluated. Different theoretical schools are examined. 

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

1. gain a general impression of Chinese culture and society, history, family and gender relationships, propaganda and new media, and the interaction between China and the world, by attending lectures, reading articles and watching films. 
2. acquire a deeper understanding of Chinese culture and society by giving presentations, participating in debates and completing a mid-term exam.
3. improve their cultural analysis and communication skills through watching films, reading film reviews, conducting interviews and making their own videos.
4. summarize and further express their own critical opinions of Chinese culture and society through the writing of a final essay.

Content

In this course, we will look at China from the inside out. During the first half of the course we will start by looking into current developments in China through three topics: 1) historical events that still influence modern-day China; 2) family relationships, such as marriage and divorce, children and parents, family planning policy, and gender issues; 3) old and new propaganda methods, new media and cutting-edge technologies. During the second half of the course we will tackle the issues which show the interaction between China and the world. Based on knowledge of Chinese philosophical ideas, we will try to understand the identity construction of Chinese people abroad, business culture and foreign policies. Besides reading related academic materials, we will mainly try to gain a deeper understanding of China through Observing, Doing and Communicating. Therefore, our course includes various of these ‘ODC’ activities, such as observing objects that contain Chinese cultural elements; celebrating the Chinese New Year; watching documentaries about China; making short videos and presenting your encounters with China in the Netherlands, such as visiting China Town, discovering the changes in Chinese companies and different generations of Chinese immigrants. Besides, this course will maintain its interdisciplinary feature by inviting guest lecturers from various fields.