Entry requirements

1. Degree of Bachelor or equivalent.
2. The equivalent of English course B in Swedish secondary school.

Progression level in relation to degree requirements

Compulsory course for the Master's Degree (60 credits) in Communication for Development

Course contents

This course examines the institutional and organisational contexts surrounding Communication for Development. The course also examines textual analysis as a tool for decoding representations of development and social change. It is divided into two modules; ‘Communication and Development Cooperation’ (7,5 credits) and ‘Culture and Media Analysis’ (7,5 credits). The modules are connected in the sense that the first module focuses on a range of communication for development organisations and the discourses of which they are part while in the second module students conduct in-depth analysis of selected media texts and/or practices to better understand the discourses they make up, or which surround them.

Learning outcomes

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING 

After completing the course, students shall demonstrate:

• In-depth knowledge of the relationship between development cooperation organisations and their communication for development initiatives and strategies (1)
• An understanding of communication policies and practices of selected development organizations and movements (2)
• In-depth knowledge of theories related to communication, culture and media analysis, with particular focus on representation (3)
• A synergized understanding of different theories of communication and development, and a deeper understanding of the integration of both traditions and their practical application (4)

SKILLS AND ABILITIES 

After completing the course, students shall demonstrate:

• The ability to analyse the content of particular media, communication for social change and cultural products (5)
• The ability to independently analyse media and cultural artefacts and articulate the importance of media and culture – including new information and communication technology – for global development and social change (6)
• An analytical approach to media/texts as practices and examples of communication for development/social change (7)
• The capacity to work in a group with participants from different geographical locations and accordingly to critically reflect upon their own background and power position (8)

CRITICAL SKILLS AND APPROACH 

After completing the course, the student shall demonstrate:

• An awareness and ability to critically analyse communication, media and cultural products (9)
• A critical perspective which enables students to see and reflect upon issues of power, identity, gender, race/ethnicity and globalization related to media and culture products and analysis (10)
• A capacity for intercultural dialogue and co-operation and consequently critical self- reflection of their own background and position of power, including reflection upon ethical issues in relation to their work (11)
• Ability to identify their own need of further knowledge and take responsibility for their own learning (12)

Learning activities

The course is given as distance learning, with regular online lectures and two intensive week-end seminars. A collaborative pedagogy is applied, based on the productive use of group dynamics through peer reviewing and other forms of interactive communication online. All teaching activities are video streamed online so students who are not able to attend in person can actively participate. We strongly encourage all students to attend teaching activities in “real time”.

Assessment

Communication and Development Cooperation 

Communication and Development Cooperation Written Assignment (3.5 credits). Written Organisation analysis - students research an organization engaged in international development cooperation or social change initiatives with the aim of gaining a deeper understanding of that organisation’s communication for development work. This assignment assesses learning outcomes 1, 2, 4, 6, 9 and 12.

Communication and Development Cooperation Group Presentation (2 credits). Students work together in groups to analyse a selection of development cooperation organisations and present their findings during an oral presentation. This assignment assesses learning outcomes 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11 and 12.

Communication and Development Cooperation Literature Review Assignment (2 credits). Students work together in groups or pairs to analyse a selection of readings and present their findings during an oral presentation. This assignment assesses learning outcomes 3, 8, 10, 11 and 12.

Culture and Media Analysis

Textual analysis (7.5 credits). Students write an in depth textual analysis applying selected analytical techniques to specific media texts. This assignment assesses learning outcomes 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 and 12.

Course literature

Joint reading module 1 - Communication and Development Cooperation

• Enghel, Florencia & Noske-Turner, Jessica (Eds) (2018) Communication in International Development: Doing Good or Looking Good? Oxon: Routledge.
• Eyben, Rosalind (2014) International Aid and the Making of a Better World: Reflexive Practice. Oxon: Routledge.
• McAnany, Emile G. (2012) Saving the World: A Brief History of Communication for Development and Social Change. Champaign, IL: University of Illinois Press.
• McGee, Rosemary & Pettit, Jethro (Eds) (2019) Power, Empowerment & Social Change. Oxon: Routledge.
• Quarry, Wendy & Ramírez, Ricardo (2009) Communication for Another Development: Listening Before Telling. London: Zed Books.?
• Sabaratnam, Meera (2019) Decolonising Intervention: International Statebuilding in Mozambique. London/New York: Rowman & Littlefield.
• Scott, Martin (2014) Media and Development. London: Zed Books.

Joint reading module 2 - Culture and Media Analysis

• Barthes, Roland (1957) Mythologies. London: Penguin.
• Hall, Stuart, Evans, Jessica and Nixon, Sean (ed.) (2013) Representations. Cultural Representations and Signifying Practices, Second Edition. London: Sage.
• Jackson, Michael (2013) The Politics of Storytelling. Variations on a Theme by Hannah Arendt 2nd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
• Rose, Gillian (2016) Visual Methodologies, 5th edition. London: Sage
• Vokes, Richard (2018) Media and Development. Oxon: Routledge.

Lists of further recommended and additional readings for both modules are listed on the course site.

Course evaluation

Malmö University provides students who participate in, or who have completed a course, with the opportunity to express their opinions and describe their experiences of the course by completing a course evaluation administered by the University. The University will compile and summarise the results of course evaluations. The University will also inform participants of the results and any decisions relating to measures taken in response to the course evaluations. The results will be made available to the students (HF 1:14).

Interim rules

If a course is no longer offered, or has undergone significant changes, the students must be offered two opportunities for re-examination based on the syllabus that applied at the time of registration, for a period of one year after the changes have been implemented.

Additional information

If a student has a Learning support decision, the examiner has the right to provide the student with an adapted test, or to allow the student to take the exam in a different format. The syllabus is a translation of a Swedish source text.