CloseHelpPrint
Kies de Nederlandse taal
Course module: B-MTIC20
B-MTIC20
Thematic Interdisciplinary Challenge
Course info
Course codeB-MTIC20
EC7.5
Course goals
Learning goals
At the end of the course, the course participants should be able to:
  • Cross boundaries while planning and executing a thematic interdisciplinary challenge.
  • Communicate about a thematic interdisciplinary challenge with fellow students, professionals, stakeholders, and scientists.
  • Formulate a clear demarcation of an interdisciplinary challenge together with a societal theme partner.
  • Connect science and society in a comprehensive and integrated problem analysis of an interdisciplinary challenge.
  • Develop a suitable and innovative end-product and implementation plan for a societal theme partner.
  • Review the content and feasibility of the end-product and implementation plan.
  • Review their own strengths and weaknesses with regard to interdisciplinary and cross-level collaboration, and their ability to connect science and society. 
  • Review what one brings to the group in relation to others, and one’s personal and professional growth.
Content
Entry requirements
No specific required previous knowledge, but students need to be willing to work together in interdisciplinary teams and look across boundaries outside their comfort zone.

Enrolment
Please note! For this course deviant enrolment rules apply:
A maximum of 100 students (25 per TIC) will follow the course together with 20-30 professionals. As a student, you are asked to tell us your story when you apply for the TIC course via our website. When applying, you can also indicate which TICs you prefer to explore and which TIC is your second choice. Apply before November 28, 2021 (via our website). You will be automatically enrolled into the course in OSIRIS and will be informed of your admission via email shortly after submitting your application.

Content description
Today’s world faces a lot of complex societal problems. These problems demand the input of multiple academic disciplines. Therefore, in the TIC course, students and professionals will be challenged and trained to become interdisciplinary and innovative problem solvers that contribute to solutions for real-world and complex societal problems.

The Thematic Interdisciplinary Challenge (TIC) is a university-broad course for year-3 Bachelor students, Master students and professionals from different disciplines. The course will promote interdisciplinary and cross-level collaboration while solving real-world challenges within the strategic themes of Utrecht University.

Students and professionals will be asked to choose one Thematic Interdisciplinary Challenge they would like to explore: Drowning Deltas, Green Teens, Contesting Governance or Responsible Foods. More information about these TICs can be found on our website: https://tic-to-tic.sites.uu.nl/

The course will offer a mix of expert sessions, workshops and discussions. In interdisciplinary groups of 4-5 students and professionals, you will learn to apply theoretical knowledge in order to solve real-world challenges.

Students and professionals from various fields will work together with scientists and policymakers towards a suitable end-product that contributes to an innovative solution of the jointly defined problem. The solution could be a prototype, a video, a symposium, a policy document, etc.

Another important component of the course focuses on (inter)personal and professional development. The course format creates a space to discover yourself and use your curiosity, enthusiasm, and creativity to come up with innovative ideas that contribute to the needs of today’s society.

Educational forms
The course consists of, among other things, debates, group work, workshops, lectures, presentations, projects, challenge-based learning and a symposium.

Grading
No written exam. The final grade is the result of active participation (pass or fail), team assignments (60%; minimal grade 5.5) and individual personal development assignments (40%; minimal grade 5.5).

Study material
Peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and popular scientific articles, which will be distributed during the course.

Study path
This interdisciplinary course is meant to broaden your horizon.
CloseHelpPrint
Kies de Nederlandse taal