Social Participation and Intercultural Communication 3700-ISSC-SPIC23-OG

The course is focused on developing an understanding of communication and social participation in culturally diverse settings, in relation to dynamic migration processes. Participants will get acquainted with current academic literature and research in this respect.
Social participation is understood here as an involvement of migrants in social life – such as access to public services, taking part in local activities and decision-making. We will look at interactions in local communities, identify potential difficulties to intercultural communication and analyse the barriers to involvement in social activities.
We will be interested in issues such as: the existence of social and cultural boundaries, modes of inclusion, integrative and discriminative practices on the part of various social actors as well as “negotiations of difference”.
Apart from a theoretical stance, the course has strong practical implications. We will explore possible policies and social actions aimed at building integrative and non-discriminatory encounters between diverse groups. Students will be empowered to analyse, design and assist inclusive social processes. They will develop sensitivity and skills in communicating across cultures and acquire the knowledge useful in supporting social participation.

Type of course

general courses

Prerequisites (description)

The course is dedicated to graduate students (studenci II stopnia) Knowledge of English on the B2 level, both written and oral.

Course coordinators

Aleksandra Winiarska

Learning outcomes

KNOWLEDGE:
- K_W04 Demonstrate knowledge of the terminology used in social sciences and explain their role in culture.
- K_W08 Understand the interdependencies between different social disciplines and their relationship with cultural research.
- K_W09 Appreciate the value of an interdisciplinary approach when analyzing and interpreting social changes in the modern world, particularly in Mediterranean countries and Central and Eastern Europe.

ABILITIES:
- K_U01 Select and critically assess information from various scientific, popular science, journalistic and other sources.
- K_U02 Interpret social processes in an advanced and interdisciplinary manner, especially the changes taking place in them.
- K_U06 Prepare an oral or written presentation that considers the needs of the audience, utilizing a range of digital tools to present arguments logically and convincingly.

SOCIAL COMPETENCES:
- K_K02 - Is able to work in team - also in a research team.

Assessment criteria

Requirements to achieve credit:

- active participation in class activities – both individual and groupwork 50%
- final project presentation 50%

Absence limit: 2
If student exceeds 50% of missed classes, she/he needs to retake the class

Bibliography

Suggested literature:

Chung L.C., Ting-Toomey S., Understanding Intercultural Communication, Oxford University Press.

Together in the EU. Promoting the participation of migrants and their descendants Report of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights

Horolets A., (2012), Migrants’ Leisure and Integration, Institute of Public Affairs Report.

Amin A. (2002). Ethnicity and the Multicultural City: Living with Diversity. Environment and Planning A 34(6): 959–980.

Dahinden J. (2013). Cities, Migrant Incorporation and Ethnicity: A Network Perspective on Boundary Work. Journal of International Migration and Integration. 14(1), 39-60.

Nowicka, M., and Vertovec, S., 2014. Comparing convivialities: dreams and realities of living-with-difference.
European journal of cultural studies, 17 (4), 341–356.

Neal S., Bennet K., Cochrane A., Mohan G. (2013). Living Multiculture: Understanding the New Spatial and Social Relations of Ethnicity and Multiculture in England. Environment and Planning C 31(2): 308–323

Wessendorf S. (2016), Settling in a Super-Diverse Context: Recent Migrants’ experiences of Conviviality, Journal of Intercultural Studies, vol. 37, issue 5, pp. 449-463.

Matejskova T., Leitner H. (2011). Urban encounters with difference: The contact hypothesis and immigrant integration projects in eastern Berlin, Social and Cultural Geography, t. 12, nr 7, s. 717–741.

Additional information

Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes:

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 3700-ISSC-SPIC23-OG in USOSweb