faculty of arts irio Research Seminars Second semester 2018-2019 Master International Relations (60 ECTS) Page 1
Title of course unit: Research Seminars Course unit code: Second semester: LYX094M10 Conflict, Security and Development LYX093M10 European Security Discourses from a Global Perspective LYX106M10 Environment, Geopolitics and the Human LYX082M10 Energy Security LYX092M10 Political Geographies of Infrastructure LYX107M10 Unexpected connections: local economies in their global contexts LYX089M10 Ethics and Global Political Economy LYX074M10 European Policy-Making LYX063M10 Human Rights, Democracy and Peace LYX060M10 Europe and China LYX076M10 The Rise of East Asia LUX014M10 Integration Processes in East Asia and in Europe LYX088M10 Het Nederlandse buitenlands beleid Degree programme: International Relations 60 ects (CROHO 60734) Study phase: Master Coordinator: dr. D.U. Shim david.shim@rug.nl +31-50-36.37896 room H13.15.0513 Office hours: appointments by telephone or e-mail Time and place: See on rooster.rug.nl under Faculty of Arts, Ma IR. 1. Type of course unit, ECTS credits and admission requirements a. Type: Mandatory Each Master IR student must follow two 10 ECTS research seminars of which at least one should be in the field of your track. One of the research seminars may also be replaced by optional course units in the field of your track, but this has to be approved by the Board of Examiners. Please contact the study advisers if you are considering this: study.advice.irio@rug.nl b. ECTS credit points: 10 ECTS c. Admission requirements: Admission to one of the tracks of the Master International Relations (60 ects, CROHO 60734): Page 2
You must have completed your BA degree in IRIO or you must have been admitted to the MA by the Admission Board on the basis of another BA degree (and Pre-Master programme where applicable). Please note that you must have enrolled in the Master programme and the track of your choice via Studielink. 2. Content of course unit In this brochure you will find an overview of the IR research seminars for the second semester of 2018-2019. Research seminars are seminars concentrating on a more focused IR subject linked to the different fields of expertise of lecturers in the Department IRIO. With the help of a programme of activities, you will learn to conduct research into a certain aspect of the theory and practice of international relations and will deepen your knowledge and understanding of a specific topic within one of the tracks. It also helps you to acquire the necessary research skills at an advanced level. The course unit will include a series of lectures with associated assignments, including at least an oral presentation, and a paper. The research seminars cater to the following fields in the Master: Geopolitics & Connectivity (G&C) Global Governance (GG)* International Political Economy (IPE) European Integration (EI) International Security (IS) East Asian Studies (EAS) International Relations and International Organization (IRIO) To meet the requirements of your track, you should choose at least one research seminar within your track. More information about the tracks can be found on the Master website and ocasys.rug.nl. * Please note that the track Global Governance is being phased out. In 2018-2019, research seminars will be labelled and catering for this track for the last time. See the Teaching & Examination Regulations for the exact details of the transition rules and contact the study advisors in case you have questions. Page 3
Semester 2 Language Research seminar Track Dutch LYX094M10 Conflict, Security and Development (Ryan) LYX093M10 European Security Discourses from a Global Perspective (De Wilde) LYX106M10 Environment, Geopolitics and the Human (Alt) LYX082M10 Energy Security (Van der Linde, Marusyk) LYX092M10 Political Geographies of Infrastructure (Hönke) LYX107M10 Unexpected connections: local economies in their global contexts (Doortmont) LYX089M10 Ethics and Global Political Economy (Kamminga) LYX074M10 European Policy-Making (Harryvan) LYX063M10 Human Rights, Democracy and Peace (Holzhacker) LYX060M10 Europe and China (Gaenssmantel) LYX076M10 The Rise of East Asia (Halbertsma) LUX014M10 Integration Processes in East Asia and in Europe (Euroculture: Voogsgeerd, De Jong) * LYX088M10 Het Nederlandse buitenlands beleid: Verleden, heden en toekomst (Wiers) IS G&C IRIO IS GG EI IRIO IS GG G&C IRIO IS G&C IPE IRIO IS GG G&C IPE IRIO GG G&C IPE IRIO GG IPE IRIO EI EI IRIO IRIO EI EAS IRIO GG EAS IRIO EAS (IRIO) GG EI IRIO * This research seminar is shared with the European Joint Master programme Euroculture. It is open to EAS students. Other IRIO students are admitted when there is still availability. For a description of these research seminars, please consult the following website for the latest information: https://www.rug.nl/ocasys/rug/vak/showpos?opleiding=5454 N.B. 1: Select the correct year 2018-2019! N.B. 2: The Department reserves the right to cancel a research seminar, for example if there are not enough participants. 3. Position of course unit in degree programme The research seminars build upon the knowledge and skills you acquired during your Bachelor programme or Pre-Master programme and the Master module Advanced Theories of International Relations. The research seminars provide the possibility to give focus to your track by offering a variety of topics from which you can choose. Also within the research seminars, there is some flexibility with regard to the paper topic that you want to do research on, in good consultation with the lecturer(s) involved. The advanced research skills that are further developed during the research seminars help you prepare for your autonomous research project in the Master Thesis. Page 4
For continuing with a placement, you need to have completed at least one research seminar successfully. In addition, at least one of the research seminars within your track must have been completed successfully in order to continue with the Master Thesis. Please note that in order to qualify for the diploma of your track within the Master, at least one of the research seminars must be linked to your track. 4. Learning outcomes of degree programme The learning outcomes of this course unit contribute to the following learning outcomes of the degree programme as described in article 3.2 of the Teaching and Examination Regulations Part B: 1.1, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2 and 5.5. 5. Learning outcomes of course unit Upon successful completion of the research seminars, a student is at least able to: L1. Acquire, organize and apply knowledge about various aspects of the track specialisation(s) linked to the research seminar, as well as about the role of different actors within these fields. (PLO 1.1, 1.3, 2.3, 5.1) L2. Develop a research plan with a clearly formulated problem definition, using one or more methods and techniques suitable for the research in the specific field of the specialisation track. (PLO 2.1, 2.2) L3. Act self-reliant and reliable in the execution of the tasks belonging to this course unit, and execute tasks in a scientifically, socially and ethically responsible manner. (PLO 3.1) L4. Critically assess research of oneself and of others. (PLO 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 5.2) L5. Report on research choices and progress in a clear manner, with the help of ICT skills. (PLO 4.1, 5.5) L6. Express oneself in a clear and coherent manner, both in oral and in written/typed form, using understandable and correct or Dutch. (PLO 4.1, 4.2) The PLO numbers correspond to the programme learning outcomes in the Teaching and Examination Regulations of the Master programme. 6. Modes of instruction and learning activities The learning activities can vary among the research seminars and are partly dependent on the topic of the particular research seminar and the lecturers involved. Nonetheless, all research seminars include the following learning activities: A series of lectures in the form of interactive seminars, The writing of a research paper/article, Oral presentations, Individual meetings to discuss progress and performance on the research seminar s assignment(s), specifically the research paper, Furthermore, a research seminar may also include: a written exam, debating assignments, assessment of participation, etc. It may be possible to take your exam and write your paper in Dutch. Please contact the responsible lecturer about this. All research seminars are taught in with the exception of the second semester research seminar Nederlands Buitenlands Beleid, which is taught in Dutch. Page 5
7. Examination Please see the course guide of your particular research seminar for the exact modes of assessment, exam times, deadlines, procedures and inspection moments. See also the schedules available on: http://rooster.rug.nl/ Missing lectures You may miss no more than 20% of the lectures if you provide a valid excuse. The first lecture in week 2 is compulsory. In all instances, notice of absence must be handed to the lecturer in advance, including a valid excuse. Consequences of failing a research seminar If you do not pass the IR research seminar, even after a resit, you will need to take another research seminar in a following semester. 8. Assessment Please see the course guide of your research seminar for the exact assessment criteria that will be applied and how the grades are calculated in your research seminar. 9. Cheating and plagiarism Cheating and plagiarism are subject to the provisions set down in Article 4.13 of Part A of the Teaching and Examination Regulations for Master programmes at the Faculty of Arts. You can find the regulations here: http://www.rug.nl/let/organization/bestuur-afdelingen-en-medewerkers/bestuur-encommissies/oeren/ The Board of Examiners is always informed in case of suspected cheating or plagiarism. 10. Calculation of student workload The research seminars are awarded with 10 ECTS. Under Dutch regulations, this means that you should expect on average a total workload of 280 hours for the course. In the course guides of your research seminar you will find a more detailed calculation of the student workload. 11. Literature Please see the course guide of your research seminar(s). 12. Weekly timetable The research seminars will start in the second week of the semester, unless otherwise stated in the timetable. Please see the schedules of your specific research seminars on: http://rooster.rug.nl/ Page 6
The general structure of the semester is as follows*: Timetable ACADEMIC YEAR 2018 2019 Start/end date of semester Calendar week Semester 2 04 Feb 6 2.1 / block 3 11 Feb 7 18 Feb 8 7 25 Feb 9 Lecture weeks 04 Mar 10 11 Mar 11 18 Mar 12 25 Mar 13 Block 2 resit week 01 Apr 14 Block 3 examination weeks 08 Apr 15 Good Friday: 19 April 15 Apr 16 2.2 / block 4 Easter: 21/22 April 22 Apr 17 King's Day: 27 Apr 29 Apr 18 7 Liberation Day: 5 May 06 May 19 Lecture weeks 13 May 20 20 May 21 Ascension Day: 30 May 27 May 22 03 Jun 23 Extra lecture week Whitsun: 9/10 June 10 Jun 24 Block 4 examination weeks 17 Jun 25 24 Jun 26 Block 3 resit week 01 Jul 27 Block 4 resit week 08 Jul 28 15 Jul 29 22 Jul 30 Summer 29 Jul 31 05 Aug 32 12 Aug 33 19 Aug 34 26 Aug 35 vacation * Please note that differences in timetables between the various research seminars occur because of various didactical approaches, study formats, availability of the lecturers, and submission deadlines. For the precise structure and timetable of your research seminar, please see the course guide of your research seminar. The lecturers may make arrangements with the students about the dates for handing in the paper proposal, the exam and the resit. Please consult the Master thesis brochure for thesis-related timelines! Page 7
In addition, please note that the University of Groningen will be closed between 25 December and 1 January. 13. Registration The maximum number allowed to follow a research seminar at one time is normally set at fifteen students. However, this number may increase in case the situation calls for it. Registration for a research seminar is therefore compulsory. You can register for research seminars via the digital registration form, which will be available via the Student Portal organization IRIO from Monday 19 November 2018 13:00 hrs until Friday 25 January 2019 23:59. (New students who don t have access yet to the Student Portal, can contact irio@rug.nl.) Instructions Make sure that you complete the entire form, indicating both a first and a second choice per research seminar, for the number of seminars you would like to enroll for: 1. First, choose your track. 2. Then, select your preferred choices. Always fill in a first choice and a second choice! For an overview of tracks and related research modules see paragraph 2 and the website: https://www.rug.nl/ocasys/rug/vak/showpos?opleiding=5454 3. In case you need to follow two research seminars, choose I want to register for a second course. 4. Again you have to fill in a first and a second choice. 5. Confirm your requests and registration by finishing with submit. Allocation Allocation to the research seminars will be done by the Department. Order of receipt of the registration forms is an important criterion. Where possible, allocation will correspond to the first choice. Make sure that you register early, because once the course unit is full, it is full. When the allocation is complete you will be registered for your research seminars in Progress in the first week of the semester. Page 8