TAFAAMO75U Optional course: African Mobilities

Volume 2015/2016
Content

The aim with this course is to understand and analyse the key processes and dynamics associated with different forms of mobility in Africa and from Africa. The course addresses migration and displacement within the African continent, but also looks at migration from the continent as well as return-migration. The changing dynamics and scope of movement in and out of Africa have generated increasing concern and interest amongst international development agencies and policy makers. The link between migration and development has been highlighted (the ‘migration-development nexus’) as a potential for social and economic development, while the link between migration and security (the ‘migration-security’ nexus) has received attention merely for the risk that mass displacement of people plays in terms of the political stability of certain African regions (the Great Lakes, the Horn of Africa). Most recently, the rise in African migrants and refugees coming to Europe has sparked life in older debates about what motivates people to travel. The course offers an introduction to the basic concepts, issues and histories of displacement, migration and mobility in African societies. The course deals with topics such as transnational migration, ideas of home and belonging, strangerhood and citizenship, refugees and conflict, religion and displacement, as well as literary narrations of displacement. We study these topics through a number of case studies and other relevant material.

Learning Outcome

The aim is for the student to acquire the following qualifications:

  • Ability to select, in consultation with the instructor, a relevant sub-topic within the overall focus area of the thematic course. The sub-topic will often be empirical in nature and geared towards specific conditions in Africa, but it can also be more theoretical.
  • Ability to independently and critically select relevant literature on the sub-topic to be studied.
  • Ability to independently and critically analyse the sub-topic in question and to place it within the overall context of the optional course in question.
Alongside a lecture, the sessions will include student presentations, group exercises, writing exercises and other teaching related activities. The intention is to generate an engaged and participatory learning environment. The success of this approach depends on the overall level of commitment of those involved in terms of reading, preparing, class participation and debate.
Please see the Study Curricula revised 2015 at www.teol.ku.dk/​​cas/​​studentinformation/​​study_curricula
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Class Instruction
  • 28
  • Total
  • 28
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination, 30 min.
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Exam period

June 2016.

Criteria for exam assesment

The grade of 12 is given at the exam when the student demonstrates:

  • Confident ability to identify and define a sub-topic and an issue of relevance to the overall theme of the optional course.
  • Confident ability to independently and critically select relevant literature on the sub-topic to be studied.
  • Confident ability to independently and critically analyse the sub-topic in question and the chosen literature.
  • Confident ability to conduct an interdisciplinary analysis of the sub-topic in question and to place it within the overall theme of the optional course in question.
  • Confident ability to communicate academic material in a clear, concise and well-argued manner.