Geographical Field Course - Morocco (2025/2026: Semester 2 – Summer)

Bekijk rooster Print deze pagina

Cursusdoel

After completing the course, students are able to:
a. identify and explain the main sustainability challenges in the context of Morocco, and interpret these challenges by placing them in a relevant economic, political, cultural and geographical context;
b. compare knowledge from readings, historical sources and visual materials with field observation in controlled format; meet with actors from public, not-for-profit, and private sectors and confront their views with academic ones;
c. integrate different perspectives on a specific sustainability challenge, and to reflect on the limitations and contributions of their own expertise;
d. analyze intercultural situations and reflect upon their own positionality;
e. communicate effectively with Moroccans, by using either (Moroccan) Arabic, French or English, using appropriate cultural conventions for each context

Description of assignment Assesses which learning goals?
  1. Presentation subtopic preparatory week (team)
  2. Active participation fieldtrip (individual)
  3. Fieldwork paper (individual)
  4. Reflection paper fieldtrip (individual)
 A
B - E
C
D

Vakinhoudelijk

Cross-listed with Humanities, with a special interest for students pursuing French or Arabic languages. Course counts towards either SSC or HUM major.

Also recommended for students in Earth&Environment, but does not count towards Science major.

Destination Summer 2024: Morocco

Morocco is often described as the ‘Gateway to Africa’. It also represents an area with a rich culture, linked to various civilizations that Morocco encountered trough different eras in its history. This is reflected in current Morocco, the way the country deals with the sustainability challenges of our time, such as the energy transition, adequate housing, questions of identity and state formation, migration and diversity and inequality. This course will help you to analyze and explain these challenges, by using an interdisciplinary approach. It will provide ample opportunity to observe, experience and discuss how these challenges are taking shape in Morocco.

The field trip will already start on campus, with an intensive, preparation of two weeks, after the finalization of the Spring Semester. Students and instructors will meet 3 – 4 times a week, to prepare for the field visit. Modes of instruction include reading and discussing literature on cultural and socio-economic background of Morocco and the topics that are featured in the field trip, a crash course Moroccan, and assignments. Departure for the field trip will be in the second week of June (after Commencement Day) and the field trip will cover a period of 9 days. There will be lectures, practical assignments, visits to NGOs and academic institutions, and day trips to specific locations and a final assignment.

Format
In the preparatory weeks, there will be lectures, a discussion on a documentary, a guest lecture and student presentations.
A program of activities in Morocco forms the core of this course. Supported by guest lectures, an active exploration of the different study sites by the participants themselves constitutes the ‘fieldwork’ component. Teams further explore their specific theme through observations in the field, visuals and other materials. Fieldwork will be complemented by organized group visits to specific sites, institutions and interactive sessions with local experts (academics and representatives of NGOs, public and commercial sectors). Discussions allow for an in-depth view of issues and the exchange of insights.

Dates
Departure for the field trip will be in the second week of June (after Commencement Day), from June 9 – 18.

Costs
Costs for the field trip will be approx..475€ per participant, covering accommodation, breakfast, local transportation, and some meals during lunch/dinner.
Airfare will be approx. 160 - 250 €
The final costs will be announced once the number of participants, program and arrangements for travel and stay are confirmed.


Registration & deadlines
Students who want to participate make their interest known by email to the course coordinator and via their tutor. The organizers will approach those who have expressed interest for confirmation of registration. Registration closes early for reservation of travel and accommodation; it is in the form of a binding signed contract as well as a down-payment of part of the field trip costs. You cannot register yourself through Osiris Student. The coordinator will take care of this.
  • Information meeting: Tuesday October 31,16:00 – 17:00 hrs
  • expression of interest: deadline Friday December 15, 2023 (motivation of 200 words + match prerequisites)
  • deadline final registration: Friday February 2, 2024
Selection will be based on the timely registration of participants, and the way the requirements are met. If interest turns out to be larger than the maximum number of participants, selection will be done through lottery.

Watch a student produced video clip of the 2018 Shanghai field trip on https://students.uu.nl/en/university-college-utrecht/academics/study-programme/humanities/china-studies

Werkvormen

UCU level 3 SSC course

Toetsing

Active individual participation field trip

Verplicht | Weging 20% | ECTS 1,5

Team field work paper

Verplicht | Weging 35% | ECTS 2,63

Individual reflection paper field trip

Verplicht | Weging 25% | ECTS 1,88

Team presentation subtopic preparatory week

Verplicht | Weging 20% | ECTS 1,5

Ingangseisen en voorkennis

Ingangseisen

Je moet minimaal 7,5 punten voor categorie 2 (Bachelor Verdiepend) hebben behaald

Voorkennis

Recommended for students in Geography: - Intro Human Geography; and of one of the following courses: Development Studies, Urban Geography or Globalization and Regional Development; or another relevant level 2 course, in SSC, HUM or SCI. Recommended for students in Humanities, one of the following courses: - level 1 Arabic - level 2 French - Intercultural Communication and a relevant level 2 course, in SSC, HUM or SCI.

Voertalen

  • Engels

Competenties

  • Internationale en interculturele oriëntatie
  • Interdisciplinariteit
  • Samenwerken

Cursusmomenten

Gerelateerde studies

Tentamens

Er is geen tentamenrooster beschikbaar voor deze cursus

Verplicht materiaal

  • DIVERSE
    Travel, accommodation and meal costs. See outline for specifics.

Aanbevolen materiaal

Er is geen informatie over de aanbevolen literatuur bekend

Opmerkingen

Registration for this course closes early for travel. Cross-listed with Humanities: counts towards SSC and HUM major

Coördinator

dr. D.S. van Lierop d.s.vanlierop@uu.nl

Docenten

dr. M. Bao M.Bao@uu.nl
dr. D.S. van Lierop d.s.vanlierop@uu.nl
dr. R. Dittgen r.dittgen@uu.nl
W Sayed Semida MA w.sayedsemidamohamedabbas@uu.nl

Inschrijving

Let op: deze cursus is niet toegankelijk voor studenten van andere faculteiten, bijvakkers mogen zich dus niet inschrijven.

Inschrijving niet via OSIRIS
Permanente link naar de cursuspagina
Laat in de Cursus-Catalogus zien