Utrecht University

The course provides students with a map of contemporary feminist approaches to issues of gender, ethnicity, and religious practices in a European context. Each session deals with a different set of interpretations, theories, topics, and case studies analyzed from social, political, historical, and cultural perspectives. Feminist theory and intersectional theory are used to unpack the entanglement of the operations of race, gender, class, religion, and sexuality in contemporary societies. These approaches are in critical dialogue with each other, as well as with several other overlapping scholarly fields such as postcolonial theory and cultural studies. Special attention is given to the debates about multiculturalism, Islam, and migration.

Within this course the bacterium has a central role. The course discusses the molecular build-up of several different types of bacteria and the ways this make-up enables these bacteria to cause infections. Plenary lectures are given by experts active in diverse fields of microbiological research. Furthermore, the focus is on giving an overview on experimental techniques in molecular microbiology. A large part of this course consists of practical work in which the students perform their own research in a fundamental research setting. 
The course discusses topics including the molecular and structural features of bacteria (including cell wall, genome, secretion systems); the diversity within bacterial species based on those characteristics; the process of a bacterial infection, from entry, colonization/infection, to pathogenesis; bacterial virulence and survival strategies of bacteria; the molecular principles of immune evasion strategies employed by bacteria; the molecular action of bacterial toxins; the acquisition and molecular basis of antibiotic resistance and alternative treatment options (such as antibody therapies); and when to use, and how to interpret, the most important modern techniques within the field of microbiology (CRISPR-Cas, Flow Cytometry, Imaging, Next Generation Sequencing, Protein Structure, and Proteomics). The course requires students to have general knowledge on molecular cell biology as a prerequisite.

Course goals

Please note: the information in the course manual is binding.

This course is developed as an integrative course that links to spatial planning, human geography (economic, social, spatial, and political aspects), sustainability, and other disciplines through addressing themes from each of these in the context of a large emerging and transforming country.

At the end of the course, participants are expected/able to:

• describe and understand the historical evolution of the country and the forces that have shaped its recent development;
• understand economic, political, social, and geographical transformation in China; 
• grasp regional and urban dynamics, development issues, and sustainability challenges in contemporary China;
• critically assess recent policies, governance changes, and planning transitions as a response to address the challenges;
• assess different discourses on the meanings for global and local development processes of China’s changing connections to and influence on the world.

Content

China’s rapid economic rise from the early 1980s has captured the world’s imagination. So does the profound social, cultural, and spatial transformation that the country has been undergoing and continues to undergo at an unprecedented scale. The latter is visible in every corner of the country, no matter how remote.

Rapid economic development has led to a number of sustainable challenges regarding environmental problems, issues of migrant integration, an aging population, and social inequality. Indeed, social, economic, and environmental sustainability and stability have come under pressure. It has been recognized that adjustment of the growth model - pursued by China’s leadership over the past decades - is imperative in order to not only sustain growth but also to achieve a broad-based increase in the standard of living and solve imbalances in development during the rapid urbanization process. In the meanwhile the main features of a new development model and path are clear. A range of reforms has been devised. What are the issues associated with the ‘old’ model of urbanization? What is the substance of the ‘new’ model of urbanization? What are the new institutional arrangements, governance models, planning practices, and social and environmental policies to address sustainability challenges? What outcomes are produced? 

Besides, China is increasingly manifesting itself in, and impacting, other regions on the globe through rapidly growing production, trade, investment, and people flows; its role in institutions of regional and global governance is changing. China going global and its growing impact (combined with the domestic issues) have given rise to substantial scientific discourse and public debate, in many parts of the world. What are the new foreign policy initiatives and how do they influence the world?

The course addresses the above questions. It starts by discussing the evolution of China and its historical development with a focus on the 19th and 20th centuries. Next, attention is given to the country's diversity, and the patterns of economic, social, and geographical transformation. Subsequently, the institutional forces, governance, and urban planning that have shaped China’s dynamics over the past decades are scrutinized. In this framework issues, unity focuses on the regional patterns of change, the position of ethnic minorities in the 'periphery', and the rural-urban divide; stability focuses on urbanization and unequal development, issues of migrant integration, and social and geographical fragmentation; and sustainability emphasizes on the aging population, energy issues, and environmental and social problems. It also discusses emerging planning practices and policies (e.g., collaborative planning/governance, smart /green city initiatives, sponge city, micro-regeneration) to address sustainability challenges.