Singapore University of Social Sciences

Interdisciplinary Global Learning

Interdisciplinary Global Learning (NIE351)

Synopsis

To thrive in an interconnected and interdependent world, it is imperative to broaden one’s experience to a wider context, hone the intercultural competencies to explore, critically analyse and engage with complex global systems and their implications, to connect local and global perspectives. Applying and synthesizing concepts and skills from NCO101 and NIE201 in contemporary global contexts, this course further contextualises theory with practice. Through curated engagement with global communities and stakeholders in the university’s network of international partners, students will practice tools and skills for intercultural engagement and learning for respectful collaboration with diverse others, gaining a nuanced understanding of the complex dynamics of perspectives, opportunities, and issues, and diversity of social, economic, political, and environmental concerns. Utilising perspective taking, empathy, balanced perspectives, students will gain confidence and competence to engage constructively with complex global challenges, applying interdisciplinary processes to appreciate and harness the strengths and diversity of the human experience. At the end of the course, students will gain the experience, skills and values to: (a) be informed, open-minded, and responsible people who are attentive to diversity across the spectrum of differences; (b) seek to understand how their actions affect both local and global communities, and (c) address the world’s most pressing and enduring issues collaboratively and equitably, to continue to learn through practice and critical reflection on what it means to live, work and play intentionally, responsibly and meaningfully as natural collaborators and effective global citizens in an inclusive and sustainable world. Please note that the course requires compulsory overseas travelling during the Semester Break and the course span over 2 semesters (grades will be released at the end of the following Semester).

Level: 3
Credit Units: 5
Presentation Pattern: EVERY REGULAR SEMESTER

Topics

  • Interculturality: valuing diversity for inclusion
  • Hofstede’s dimensions of culture: national culture, cultural intelligence, and communication
  • Language and culture learning for sociocultural understanding and relationship building
  • Relevant interdisciplinary lenses in the host country
  • Domain specific concepts for interdisciplinary collaboration
  • Perspective taking strategies for interdisciplinary understanding
  • Applying interdisciplinary collaboration and facilitation
  • Fieldwork Ethics
  • Experiential learning cycle
  • Reflective practice for self and community
  • Risk assessment and management
  • Addressing global issues using interdisciplinary perspectives

Learning Outcome

  • Observe how cultures vary and intersect.
  • Discuss the challenges and opportunities in one or more identified global issue(s)
  • Deconstruct the complexity of issues though interdisciplinary lenses
  • Demonstrate knowledge synthesis from varied disciplinary bases applied to contemporary global contexts
  • Practice perspective taking strategies and effective intercultural communication skills to facilitate the integration of diverse perspectives in understanding complex subjects
  • Examine personal and collective global citizenship responsibilities, such as the consequences of individual and collective action or inaction in addressing ethical, social, and environmental challenges in global systems
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