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 establishes a global perspective and provides a general introduction to the key concepts of Globalisation, Communication/Media, Culture, Development and the Postcolonial/Decolonial.

The course is divided in two modules, ‘Globalisation and Communication’ (7.5 credits) and ‘Development and Postcolonialism’ (7.5 credits). The first module gives a broad introduction to globalisation debates in relation to questions of communication, media and social change, stressing the cultural rather than economic aspects. The sequel module 2 gives an introduction to development theory, complemented with emphasis on postcolonial/decolonial theory and writing. We study cultural approaches to development, from early modernisation to present day approaches. Special attention is paid to the journalistic, documentary and literary depictions of a globalized world, and especially the global South.

Learning outcomes

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING 

After completing the course, the student shall demonstrate:

• A broad understanding of globalization processes with specific attention to communication, culture, the postcolonial, and media, in the context of global and local change (1)
• A deepened understanding of the relationship between culture, development and identity, with special regard to identity politics (2)
• A broad knowledge of current trends in the global media industry, with focus on transnational communication and public spheres (3)
• A knowledge of postcolonial theory and writing and development theories with an emphasis on the tension between development aid, poverty reduction, cultural conditions and policies for development and social change (4)

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

After completing the course, the student shall demonstrate:

• The ability to critically assess the role of media, culture and communication in globalization processes (5)
• The ability to analyze media and cultural texts or communication products and their role in, or connection to, ideas and processes of development (6)
• The capacity to work in a group with participants from different cultural backgrounds, to interact online, and accordingly to critically reflect upon the different learning activities of the programme and one’s own background and position (7)

CRITICAL SKILLS AND APPROACH

After completing the course, the student shall demonstrate:

• The ability to critically reflect upon the relationship between globalisation, culture, communication and development (8)
• That he/she is equipped to critically analyse development theories in a historical perspective, as well as tensions and affinities between development and postcolonial studies (9)
• An engagement in critical discussion on the value and role of globalisation for an analysis of culture (10)

Learning activities

The course is given as a hybrid model of distance as well as in-situ learning, with weekly live campus as well as online - learning activities (based on attendance online or in person on campus, or where the activity takes place). In addition, online asynchronous class guidance/discussion and exercises are offered. A collaborative pedagogy is applied, based on the productive use of group dynamics through oral or written peer reviewing and other forms of interactive communication on the Internet. The activities/seminars are broadcast via streaming video (with a variety of chat and break out rooms. Recordings of events for revision learning and later reuse also takes place.

Assessment

Assessment in the course is carried out in three different assignments

• Individual home exam, MGD1 (5 ECTS, LO 4, 5 ,9 and 10)
• Individual paper in two parts with process peer reviewing MGD2 (5 ECTS, LO 1, 3, 4 6, 7, 8 and 10)
• Individual essay MGD3 (5 ECTS, LO 2, 4 ,6 ,8, 9 and 10)

Assignment MGD1 is related equally to module 1 and 2 readings and themes. MGD2 has an emphasis on module 1 while MGD3 has an emphasis on module 2.

Course literature

Module 1. Globalization and Communication:

• Eriksen, Thomas Hylland (2014). Globalization: The Key Concepts, 2nd and Revised Edition. New York: Bloomsbury. (2007 edition available as Ebook)
• Tufte, Thomas (2017) Communication and Social Change: A Citizen Perspective. Cambridge Polity.

Thematic literature in the form of articles and selections from anthologies to be added

Module 2. Development and Postcolonialism:

• McEwan, Cheryl (2019). Postcolonialism, Decoloniality and Development. London: Routledge.
• Pieterse, Jan Nederveen (2017) Multipolar Globalization: Emerging Economies and Development.

Further academic articles to be added. In addition, a range of literary, documentary and journalistic readings/depictions will be offered as essay options.

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.