Program Overview

Program Overview

The Interdisciplinary Community Service Learning 1 (iCSL1) course is designed for Master's students from any disciplinary background. The course aims to drive social and urban transitions, contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It takes place in the evening during period 2 and is worth 3 ECTS.

About the Course: Social and Urban Transitions

The course focuses on defining challenges together with the actors involved, understanding how individual solutions integrate into the urban system, and interact with one another. It covers areas such as social cohesion, mental wellbeing, energy, mobility, circularity, and more.

What Will You Do in This Course?

• Explore different viewpoints on real-world challenges from various academic fields and non-academic actors.
  • Reflect on the similarities, differences, and frictions between these viewpoints.
• Creatively integrate diverse viewpoints, potentially using art, music, and literature.

What Will You Learn?

This course provides new insights and a deeper understanding of the relations between theories and practice. You will develop global citizenship skills, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and cultural understanding. You will be able to identify and integrate various societal issues and the perspectives of different societal actors in practice.

Admission

Every Master's student is eligible to take part in this course. Students from many different universities and a large variety of disciplines are welcome.

Period

The course runs in period 2, from November to December.

ECTS

Completing this course results in 3 ECTS credits. It can be included in your study plan as an elective if allowed by your program's curriculum and exam board, or taken extracurricularly.

Enrolment

VU Master's students can enrol via VU.nl. Students from other universities should contact the course coordinator, Eduardo Urias.

Q&A Sessions

Interested students can register for online Q&A sessions for more information.

Questions

For any questions, students can attend a Q&A session or contact the course coordinator.

Art as a Means for Dialogue

The course tackles interdisciplinary work between students and real-world challenges, using art as a means for dialogue and understanding societal issues.